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Evaluate the sum 1/(k^2+1) from k= 1 to infinity?

Find the sum 1/(k^2+1) from k = 1 to infinity

Give sum 1/k^2 = pi^2/6, sum 1/k^4 = pi^4/90, sum 1/k^6 = pi^6/945 all from k = 1 to infinity

i know sum 1/(k^2+1) = sum (1/k^2 - 1/(k^2*(k^2+1))) = sum 1/k^2 - sum 1/(k^2(k^2+1))

= pi^2/6 -sum (1/(k^4+k^2))

i dont know what to do from here,

can anybody help me on this, Thanks

1 Answer

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  • kb
    Lv 7
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    One way to evaluate this cleanly is to use Complex Analysis.

    Here's the key result (proved using the Residue Theorem):

    Under "reasonable" growth conditions on f, we have

    Σ(-∞ to ∞) f(k) = - {sum of the residues of π cot(πz) f(z) at the poles of f(z)}.

    ------------------------------

    Here, f(z) = 1/(z^2 + 1), which has simple poles at z = ± i.

    The residue of π cot(πz) * 1/(z^2 + 1) at z = i equals

    lim(z→i) (z - i) * π cot(πz)/(z^2 + 1)

    = lim(z→i) π cot(πz)/(z + i)

    = π cot(πi)/(2i)

    = (-π/2) coth π.

    Similarly, the residue of π cot(πz) * 1/(z^2 + 1) at z = i equals (-π/2) coth π as well.

    Hence,

    Σ(-∞ to ∞) 1/(k^2 + 1) = - {(-π/2) coth π + (-π/2) coth π} = π coth π.

    However,

    Σ(-∞ to ∞) 1/(k^2 + 1) = Σ(-∞ to -1) 1/(k^2 + 1) + 1/(0^2 + 1) + Σ(1 to ∞) 1/(k^2 + 1)

    ................................= 1 + 2 * Σ(k = 1 to ∞) 1/(k^2 + 1).

    So, 1 + 2 * Σ(k = 1 to ∞) 1/(k^2 + 1) = π coth π

    ==> Σ(k = 1 to ∞) 1/(k^2 + 1) = (π coth π - 1)/2.

    Double check:

    http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%CE%A3%28k+%3...

    I hope this helps!

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