×

# Need proof for the following infinite series !!

Prove that

$\displaystyle \sum_{-\infty}^{\infty} \dfrac1{n+a} = \pi \cot (\pi a ) .$

Note by Brilliant Member
1 year, 1 month ago

MarkdownAppears as
*italics* or _italics_ italics
**bold** or __bold__ bold
- bulleted- list
• bulleted
• list
1. numbered2. list
1. numbered
2. list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
paragraph 1paragraph 2

paragraph 1

paragraph 2

[example link](https://brilliant.org)example link
> This is a quote
This is a quote
    # I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.

print "hello world"
MathAppears as
Remember to wrap math in $$...$$ or $...$ to ensure proper formatting.
2 \times 3 $$2 \times 3$$
2^{34} $$2^{34}$$
a_{i-1} $$a_{i-1}$$
\frac{2}{3} $$\frac{2}{3}$$
\sqrt{2} $$\sqrt{2}$$
\sum_{i=1}^3 $$\sum_{i=1}^3$$
\sin \theta $$\sin \theta$$
\boxed{123} $$\boxed{123}$$

Sort by:

If you ask me how to do this by complex analysis , there is a much simpler answer.

i am using the summation theorem, first take a look here if necessary to see how all this happens. Let the function be $$\displaystyle f(z)=\frac{1}{z+a}$$ . It has a simple pole at $$z=-a$$ and by summation theroem we need to evaluate the residue of $$\pi\cot (\pi z)f(z)$$ at $$z=-a$$

The residue is therefore $$\displaystyle R=\lim_{z\to -a}(z+a) \frac{\pi\cot\pi z}{z+a}=-\pi\cot\pi a$$

The answer is therefore the negative of the residue ,

$$\displaystyle \sum_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{1}{n+a}=\pi\cot \pi a$$

The series is actually the representation of $$\psi(a)$$ where $$\psi(.)$$ is the Digamma Function.

- 1 year, 1 month ago

Wow. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for such a wonderful reply.

- 1 year, 1 month ago

(Assuming you know complex analysis,) do you see why complex analysis is the natural way to approach this problem?

When asking about "what have you tried", part of it is also to understand how much background you have, in order to provide a suitable reply. Your solution didn't give me great confidence in your understanding of calculus/anlysis, which is why I was unable to suggest taking a "high power" approach instead of a "crude summation like Riemann sum".

In future, by providing this context to others (e.g. I got this problem when working through Serge Lang's complex analysis book on this chapter), that will give you better replies.

Staff - 1 year, 1 month ago

What have you tried, where did you get stuck?

Staff - 1 year, 1 month ago

Thank you so much for the response. I don't know how to deal with it. I know about General Harmonic series. But i am not getting any idea about how to solve a summation from "negative infinity to positive infinity" which also involves a constant "a" .

- 1 year, 1 month ago

×