3
$\begingroup$

Wikipedia lists a series expansion for $\zeta(s)$ here. How is the Dirichlet series below derived? I apologize in advance if this is a very simple question, I don't know much about Dirichlet series.

Wikipedia summation formula

$$\zeta(s)=\frac{1}{s-1}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \left(\frac{n}{(n+1)^s}-\frac{n-s}{n^s}\right)$$ which converges for $\Re(s) > 0$

$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

4
$\begingroup$

I'm not sure why Wikipedia has it in that form, but here's a plausible explanation of how one could derive an equivalent form. The first question to ponder is how $\sum_{k=1}^\infty n^{-s}$ grows if ${\rm Re}(s)<1$. We get

$$\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{k^s} =n^{1-s}\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{n}\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)^{-s}\sim n^{1-s}\int_0^1 x^{-s}{\rm d}x =\frac{n^{1-s}}{1-s}$$

for ${\rm Re}(1-s)>0\iff {\rm Re}(s)<1$. Heuristically we find that

$$\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{k^s} \approx \frac{n^{1-s}}{1-s}+\zeta(s) $$

for ${\rm Re}(s)>0,\ne1$ by checking the cases $0<{\rm Re}(s)<1$ and ${\rm Re}(s)>1$ separately. Since $\zeta(s)$ has a pole at $s=1$ let's look at the function $(s-1)\zeta(s)$ instead. It is heuristically the limit of the terms

$$ c_n=(s-1)\sum_{k=1}^n\frac{1}{k^s}+n^{1-s}. $$

We check the forward differences are

$$\begin{array}{ll} c_{n+1}-c_n & \displaystyle =\frac{s-1}{(n+1)^s}+\frac{n+1}{(n+1)^s}-\frac{n}{n^s} \\ & \displaystyle =\frac{s}{(n+1)^s}+n\left(\frac{1}{(n+1)^s}-\frac{1}{n^s}\right). \end{array} $$

Therefore, adding $c_1+(c_2-c_1)+\cdots+(c_{n+1}-c_n)$ (note $c_1=s$) we get

$$\begin{array}{ll} c_{n+1} & \displaystyle =s+\sum_{k=1}^n \left[\frac{s}{(k+1)^s}+k\left(\frac{1}{(k+1)^s}-\frac{1}{k^s}\right)\right] \\ & \displaystyle = \frac{s}{(n+1)^s}+\sum_{k=1}^n \left[ \frac{s}{k^s}+k\left(\frac{1}{(k+1)^s}-\frac{1}{k^s}\right)\right]. \end{array}$$

The term $\displaystyle \frac{s}{(n+1)^s}$ out in front $\to0$ as $n\to\infty$ so delete. Take the limit to get

$$(s-1)\zeta(s)=\sum_{k=1}^\infty \left[ \frac{s}{k^s}+k\left(\frac{1}{(k+1)^s}-\frac{1}{k^s}\right) \right] $$

which is the desired form.

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ Thank You, excellent answer. Struggling with the third step at the beginning which forms n^(1-s)*\int_0^1*x^(-s)dx. I don't see how this part was formed, I will think about this some more. Thank You very much. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 23, 2015 at 3:45
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Axion004 $\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{n}\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)^{-s}$ is the Riemann sum for $\displaystyle\int_0^1 x^{-s}{\rm d}x$. (Standard trick BTW.) $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 23, 2015 at 4:53
  • $\begingroup$ @whacka: Could you show me why $\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{1}{n}\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)^{-s}=\displaystyle\int_0^1 x^{-s}{\rm d}x$? Any reference is helpful. Thanks $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 10, 2016 at 10:55

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.