Taylor Coefficients and Series Involving Harmonic Numbers
Taylor Coefficients and Series Involving Harmonic Numbers
Taylor Coefficients and Series Involving Harmonic Numbers
and
∞
X 1 30k − 11 (3) (3) 27
(H2k−1 + 2Hk−1 ) + 4 = 4ζ(3)2 ,
2k 2 k(2k − 1) 8k
2
k=1 k k
(m)
where Hn denotes 0<j⩽n j −m .
P
1. Introduction
For each m ∈ Z+ = {1, 2, 3, . . .}, the mth harmonic numbers are those
rational numbers
X 1
Hn(m) = (n ∈ N = {0, 1, 2, . . .}).
km
0<k≤n
(1)
The numbers Hn = (n ∈ N) are the usual harmonic numbers. Z.-W.
Hn
Sun [12, 13] formulated many conjectural series identities whose summands
involve generalized harmonic numbers of small orders. Motivated by this,
we confirmed some conjectures of Sun and evaluate more series involving
harmonic numbers of small orders.
Pilehroods [10] used the WZ method to prove the following identity pro-
posed by the second author in [11]:
∞ ∞
(−27)k−1 (15k − 4) X k3
X
2 3k = ,
k 3 2k k2
k=1 k k k=1
Key words and phrases. Binomial coefficients, combinatorial identities, harmonic num-
bers, infinite series.
2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 05A19, 11B65; Secondary 33B15.
Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 11921001 and
12371004, respectively).
1
2 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
Our next theorem confirms Conjectures 6.1(i) and 6.4(i) of Sun [13].
Theorem 1.2. We have
∞ (2)
X (21k − 8)Hk−1 + 2/k π4
3 = (1.2)
k 3 2k 360
k=1 k
and
∞
16k π4
X (2) 1
3 (6k − 2)Hk−1 + = . (1.3)
3 2k
k 24
k=1 k k
where G = ∞ k 2
P
k=0 (−1) /(2k + 1) is the Catalan constant. In contrast, we
obtain the following result.
Theorem 1.4. We have
∞
X 16k (6k − 1)(4H2k−1 − Hk−1 )
= π3. (1.7)
2 2k 4k
k=1
(2k − 1)k k 2k
Motivated by this and Conjecture 4.2 of Sun [13], we establish the following
theorem.
Theorem 1.7. We have
∞
(−1)k
X 7k − 2 1 3
2k 3k
(2H2k−1 − Hk−1 ) + = − ζ(3) (1.14)
2k − 1
2
k k k k 2
k=1
and
∞
(−1)k π4
X 7k − 2 (2) 3
2k 3k
Hk−1 − 2 = . (1.15)
2k − 1
k2 k k
4k 720
k=1
and
∞
(−256)k (86k 2 − 21k + 2)ck + 2k(232k − 45)/(2k − 1)
X
= −32π 4 ,
2 k 3 3k 6k
k=1
(2k − 1) k 3k
(1.22)
where ck = 2H6k−1 − H3k−1 + Hk−1 . Also,
∞ (2)
(−256)k (86k 2 − 21k + 2)H2k−1 − 61k(6k − 1)/(2k − 1)2
X
= 992ζ(5)
2 k 3 3k 6k
k=1
(2k − 1) k 3k
(1.23)
and
∞ (3) (3)
(−256)k (86k 2 − 21k + 2)(15H2k−1 − 2Hk−1 ) − 83k(6k − 1)/(2k − 1)3
X
(2k − 1)2 k 3 3k
6k
k=1 k 3k
= −1568ζ(3)2 . (1.24)
Motivated by this and the spirit of Sun [13], we establish the following
theorem.
Theorem 1.14. Let Q(k) = (2k − 1)(11k − 3) = 22k 2 − 17k + 3. We have
∞
16k 4k
2k Q(k)Hk−1 + (6k − 1)(4k − 3)/(2k − 1)
X
3k 6k
= 16G − 4π log 2,
k=1
k(4k − 1)(4k − 3) k 3k
(1.39)
∞ k 4k
2k Q(k)H2k−1 + (6k − 1)(k − 3)/(6k − 3)
X 16 4
3k 6k
= (8G − π log 2),
k(4k − 1)(4k − 3) k 3k 3
k=1
(1.40)
and
∞
16k 4k 2 − 20k + 3)/(6k − 3)
X
2k Q(k)(2H 6k−1 − H3k−1 ) + 4(18k
k(4k − 1)(4k − 3) 3k
6k
k=1 k 3k
4
= (16G + π log 2). (1.41)
3
Motivated by this and the spirit of Sun [13], we establish the following
theorem.
Theorem 1.15. Let Q(k) = 60k 2 − 43k + 8. We have
∞ 4k
2k Q(k)(3H2k−1 − 2Hk−1 ) − 34k + 25/2
X
4 = 6ζ(3), (1.44)
(4k − 1)k 3 2k
k=1 k
∞ 4k 2
2k Q(k)H4k−1 − (304k − 216k + 39)/(4(4k − 1))
X
4 = 4ζ(3), (1.45)
k=1 (4k − 1)k 3 2k
k
∞ 4k
(2)
X
2k Q(k)Hk−1 + (44k − 15)/(4k) π4
4 = , (1.46)
(4k − 1)k 3 2k
90
k=1 k
and
∞ 4k
(2)
X
2k Q(k)H2k−1 + (52k − 21)/(4k) 2π 4
4 = . (1.47)
(4k − 1)k 3 2k 45
k=1 k
8 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
In most cases, both limits vanish and F (n, k) and G(n, k) involve addi-
tional parameters. By comparing the Taylor expansions of these parame-
ters, we obtain identities that involve harmonic numbers. Following this
approach, Au [2] confirmed several conjectures made by the second author.
We will prove Theorems 1.1 and 1.2 in this way. It is worth noting that if
(F (n, k), G(n, k)) is a WZ pair, then so is (F (n + a, k + b), G(n + a, k + b)).
Consequently, any WZ pair can be generalized by introducing two extra
parameters a and b.
In Section 3, we focus on identities established from summation formulas
or transformation formulas of hypergeometric series. By applying differential
operations, one can derive identities that involve harmonic numbers. This
method has been explored by Chu and his coauthor [3, 7] and Wei [14, 15].
We emphasize that symbolic computation plays an important role in our
work. We use the Maple command coeftayl to extract the Taylor coef-
ficients, the Maple package APCI (which is available at the first author’s
homepage) to compute the WZ pair (F (n, k), G(n, k)) once F (n, k) is given,
TAYLOR COEFFICIENTS AND SERIES INVOLVING HARMONIC NUMBERS 9
We will use [xi y j ]f (x, y) to denote the Taylor coefficient of xi y j in f (x, y).
If there is no confusion, we write notions as a[x2 ] + b[xy] to denote the linear
combinations of these coefficients.
Proof of Theorem 1.1. Let (F (n, k), G(n, k)) be the WZ pair given by
Pilehroods in [10]:
F (n, k) = (−1)n (n + 2k + 1)H(n, k),
18k 2 + 54kn + 45n2 + 36k + 63n + 22
G(n, k) = (−1)n H(n, k),
18(2n + 1)
where
(1/3)2k (2/3)2k (2/3)n (4/3)n n!2
H(n, k) = .
(1/3)2n+k+1 (2/3)2n+k+1 2n n
For the WZ-pair (F (n, k + b), G(n, k + b)), we have
∞
X ∞
X
F (0, k + b) = G(n, b).
k=0 n=0
It is known that
∞
X (k) 3 4π 3
= √ .
k3 81 3
k=1
Therefore we obtain the desired (1.1).
10 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
F (n, k) = H(a, b, c + n, d + n, k + n)
there exists a hypergeometric term G(n, k) such that (F (n, k), G(n, k)) forms
a WZ pair. One can compute the explicit G(n, k) by the Maple package APCI.
By the WZ pair
F̃ (n, k) = F (n, k)/F (0, 0), G̃(n, k) = G(n, k)/F (0, 0),
F̃ (n, k) = F (n, k)/F (0, 0), G̃(n, k) = G(n, k)/F (0, 0),
TAYLOR COEFFICIENTS AND SERIES INVOLVING HARMONIC NUMBERS 11
3. Hypergeometric identities
βk (a, c, d, e) = (1 + a − d + 2k)(a + d − e + k)
(1 − c + k)(1 + c − d + k)(e − d + k)
+ .
1 + 2k
Let us consider the Taylor expansion at (a, c, d, e) = (1/2, 1/2, 1, 3/2). By
searching the linear combination of all Taylor coefficients of order 4, we find
12 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
where
a2 − ab + 4 ak − 2 bk − cd − ck − kd + 3 k 2 + a + 2 k
αk (a; b, c, d) =
1 + a − b + 2k
Let us consider the linear combination 2[a] + 2[b] + [d] of Taylor coefficients
at (a, b, c, d) = (1, 1, 1, 3/2). The coefficient of the right hand side of (3.56)
is
∞
1X 16k (6k − 1)
− 4k (4H2k−1 − Hk−1 − 6).
8
k=1
(2k − 1)k 2 2k
k 2k
Recall the known identity (1.6). While the coefficient of the right hand side
is
∞
X k (6 k + 1)
2 (−1) 3
k=0
(1 + 2 k)
π3
By MultipleZetaValues, this sum reduces to 6G − 8 . Therefore, (1.7)
follows immediately.
Proof of Theorem 1.5. Recall that [4, Theorem 14]
∞
X (b)k (c)k (d)k (e)k
(a + 2k)
(1 + a − b)k (1 + a − c)k (1 + a − d)k (1 + a − e)k
k=0
∞
X (1 + a − b − d)2k
= βk (a; b, c, d, e)
(1 + a − ck (1 + a − e)k
k=0
(c)k (e)k (1 + a − b − c)k (1 + a − b − e)k (1 + a − c − d)k (1 + a − d − e)k
× ,
(1 + a − b)2k (1 + a − d)2k (1 + 2a − b − c − d − e)2k
(3.57)
14 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
where
(1 + 2a − b − c − d + 3k)(a − e + k)
βk (a; b, c, d, e) = + (e + k)(1 + a − b − c + k)
1 + 2a − b − c − d − e + 2k
(1 + a − b − d + 2k)(1 + a − c − d + k)(2 + 2a − b − d − e + 3k)
× .
(1 + a − b + 2k)(1 + a − d + 2k)(1 + 2a − b − c − d − e + 2k)2
[a3 ] + [a2 d] + 2[a2 e] + [abd] + [ace] − [ad2 ] + 2[ade] + 2[ae2 ] + [bd2 ] + 2[bde]
+ [cde] + 2[ce2 ] − 2[d3 ] − 2[d2 e] + 2[de2 ] + 2[e3 ].
∞
1 X 1 8(30k − 11) (3) (3) 27
2 (H2k−1 + 2Hk−1 ) + 4 .
16 k 2 2k k(2k − 1) k
k=1 k
∞
1X −8 k 3 − 24 k 2 − 24 k − 8 Hk3 −12 k 3 − 30 k 2 − 24 k − 6 Hk2
− 6 + 6
3 (1 + k) (1 + k)
k=0
(2)
−12 k 3 − 30 k 2 − 18 k 12 k 3 + 36 k 2 + 36 k + 12 Hk Hk
+ 6 Hk + 6
(1 + k) (1 + k)
(2) (3) !
6 k 3 + 15 k 2 + 12 k + 3 Hk −4 k 3 − 12 k 2 − 12 k − 4 Hk 3 k2 + 9 k
+ 6 + 6 + 6 .
(1 + k) (1 + k) (1 + k)
∞
X (b)k (c)k (d)k (e)k
(a + 2k)
(1 + a − b)k (1 + a − c)k (1 + a − d)k (1 + a − e)k
k=0
∞
X (−1)k (c)k (d)k (1 + a − b − e)k (1 + a − c − d)k
= γk (a; b, c, d, e)
(1 + a − b)3k (1 + a − e)k
k=0
(e)2k (1 + a − b − c)2k (1 + a − b − d)2k
× , (3.58)
(1 + a − c, 1 + a − d)2k (1 + 2a − b − c − d − e)2k
TAYLOR COEFFICIENTS AND SERIES INVOLVING HARMONIC NUMBERS 15
where
(1 + 2a − b − c − d + 4k)(a − e + k) (1 + a − b − c + 2k)
γk (a; b, c, d, e) = +
1 + 2a − b − c − d − e + 2k (1 + a − b + 3k)
(e + 2k)(1 + a − b − d + 2k)(1 + a − c − d + k)(2 + 2a − b − d − e + 3k)
×
(1 + a − d + 2k)(1 + 2a − b − c − d − e + 2k)2
.
(c + k)(e + 2k)(1 + a − b − c + 2k)(1 + a − b − e + k)(1 + a − c − d + k)
+
(1 + a − c + 2k)(1 + a − d + 2k)
(1 + a − b − d + 2k)2
×
(1 + a − b + 3k)2 (1 + 2a − b − c − d − e + 2k)2
Notice that
280 k 3 − 168 k 2 + 33 k − 2 6(56 k 2 − 32 k + 5)
5 1
2 = − .
2k (2 k − 1) 12 (2 k − 1)2 k
The value for the left hand side of (3.58) is
∞
X Hk 5k + 1
−4 +2 ,
k=0
(1 + k)3 (1 + k)4
[b] + [d]. The value for the right hand side of (3.58) is
∞
(−1)k 1 336k 3 − 160k 2 + 16k − 1
X 7k − 2
8 (2H2k−1 − Hk−1 ) − .
k 2 2k 3k 2k − 1 2 k(2k − 1)2
k=1 k k
Notice that
1 336k 3 − 160k 2 + 16k − 1
−
2 k(2k − 1)2
1 −6(56 k 2 − 32 k + 5) −6(7 k − 2) 8
= · 2 +2· +
4 k (2 k − 1) 2k − 1 k
In addition to (1.10), we also have (1.13). While the value for the left hand
side of (3.58) is
∞
12 k 2 + 12 k + 1
X Hk H2k
4 −4 + .
k=0
(1 + k)2 (1 + k)2 (1 + 2 k) (1 + k)3
Notice that
336 k 4 − 320 k 3 + 56 k 2 + 19 k − 6
−
k 2 (2 k − 1)2
1 −6(56 k 2 − 32 k + 5) −6(7 k − 2) 6
=− · 2 +4· + 2.
6 k (2 k − 1) 2k − 1 k
While the value for the left hand side of (3.58) is
∞
(4 k 2 + 6 k + 2)H2k − 2 k 2 − 3 k Hk
X Hk2 2
H2k
36 − 24 + 16
k=0
(1 + k)2 (1 + 2 k) (1 + k)3 (1 + k)2
!
(3 + 2 k) kH2k k 12 k 3 + 36 k 2 + 27 k + 4
−16 +4 .
(1 + 2 k) (1 + k)3 (1 + 2 k)2 (1 + k)4
π4
By MultipleZetaValues, this sum reduces to 2π 2 − 90 − 4ζ(3). Therefore,
(1.15) follows immediately.
TAYLOR COEFFICIENTS AND SERIES INVOLVING HARMONIC NUMBERS 17
Recall the known identity (1.16). While the coefficient of the left hand of
(3.58) simplifies to
∞
X 8k + 1
−32 ,
(2k + 1)4
k=0
Recall the known identity (1.18). Denote the series on the left hand side of
(3.59) by Ω(a; b, c, d, e). We have the transformation formula [4, Theorem
5]:
Ω(a; b, c, d, e) =
a−c
Ω(1+2a−b−d−e; 1+a−b−e, 1+a−b−d, 1+a−d−e, c).
1 + 2a − b − c − d − e
(3.60)
The coefficient of the right hand of (3.60) is
∞
X 6k + 1
256 (−1)k ,
(2k + 1)3
k=0
By a similar argument as before, we find that the series on the left hand
side of (1.24) is equal to
∞ (3) (3) ∞
X 8H − H2k k
X 1
−512 + 2048 ,
(2k + 1)3 (2k + 1)6
k=0 k=0
which equals −1568ζ(3)2 , completing the proof of (1.24).
Proof of Theorem 1.11. We utilize the transformation (3.58) and consider
the Taylor expansion at (a, b, c, d, e) = ( 32 , 1, 12 , 12 , 1).
The first combination is
8[a] + 8[b] + 6[d] + 11[e].
We find that the series on the left hand side of (1.26) equals
∞
9 (4k + 3)(2H2k − Hk ) 16k 3 + 24k 2 + 21k + 8
X 9 (4k + 3)Hk
+ + .
2 (2k + 1)2 (k + 1)2 2 (2k + 1)2 (k + 1)2 (2k + 1)3 (k + 1)3
k=0
By MultipleZetaValue, it equals 11ζ(3), completing the proof of (1.26).
The second combination is
36[a] + 40[b] + 28[d] + 46[e].
We find that the series on the left hand side of (1.27) equals
∞
21(4k + 3)(2H2k − Hk ) 2(32k 3 + 48k 2 + 45k + 18)
X 21(4k + 3)Hk
+ + .
(2k + 1)2 (k + 1)2 (2k + 1)2 (k + 1)2 (2k + 1)3 (k + 1)3
k=0
By MultipleZetaValue, it equals 50ζ(3), completing the proof of (1.27).
Proof of Theorem 1.12. We utilize the transformation (3.58) and consider
the Taylor expansion at (a, b, c, d, e) = (1, 1/2, 1, 1/2, 1/2).
The first combination is
−[c] + [d] − [e].
20 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
The coefficient of the right hand side of (3.58) is exactly the same as the
left hand side of (1.31). While coefficient of the left hand sider of (3.58) is
∞
X Hk
−2 ,
(2k + 1)2
k=0
π2
which equals 2 log 2 − 72 ζ(3) by MultipleZetaValue. This proves (1.31).
The second combination is
−2[b] + 2[c]
The coefficient of the right hand side of (3.58) is
∞
(−16)k P (k)(2H6k−1 − H3k−1 − 3Hk−1 ) − 224k 3 + 168k 2 − 24k − 5/2
X
k 2 (2k − 1)(4k − 1)(4k − 3) 3k
6k
k=1 k 3k
∞
X (−16) P (k)(2H6k−1 − H3k−1 − 3Hk−1 ) − 64k 2 + 46k − 17/2
k
=
2 (2k − 1)(4k − 1)(4k − 3) 3k 6k
k=1
k k 3k
∞
X (−16)k P (k)
−2 3k
6k
k=1
k 2 (2k − 1)(4k − 1)(4k − 3) k 3k
where ak is the summand of the left hand side of (1.35). By the transfor-
mation (3.60), the coefficient of the left hand side of (3.57) is
∞
X 6 π4
= ,
(2k + 1)4 16
k=0
[a2 ] + [ac] + [ad] + [ae] + [c2 ] + [cd] + [ce] + [d2 ] + [de] + [e2 ].
∞
X ∞
X
(a2k−1 + a2k ) = ak ,
k=1 k=1
where ak is the summand of the left hand side of (1.36). By the transfor-
mation (3.60), the coefficient of the left hand side of (3.57) is
∞
X 8 31
= ζ(5),
(2k + 1)5 4
k=0
∞
X ∞
X
(a2k−1 + a2k ) = ak ,
k=1 k=1
where ak is the summand of the left hand side of (1.37). By the transfor-
mation (3.60), the coefficient of the left hand side of (3.57) is
∞ (3) (3)
!
X 4(8H2k − Hk ) 16 49
3
+ = ζ(3)2 ,
(2k + 1) (2k + 1)6 4
k=0
−8([a] + [b]).
22 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
∞ 4k
16k Q(k)Hk−1 − 2(396k 3 − 540k 2 + 247k − 33)/(6k − 3)
X
2k
k(4k − 1)(4k − 3) 3k
6k
k=1 k 3k
∞ k 4k
2
2k Q(k)Hk−1 + 4(18k − 20k + 3)/(6k − 3)
X 16
= 3k 6k
k=1
k(4k − 1)(4k − 3) k 3k
∞ k 4k
X 16 2k Q(k)
−6
k(4k − 1)(4k − 3) 3k
6k
k=1 k 3k
∞ k 4k
X 16 2k Q(k)Hk−1 + (6k − 1)(4k − 3)/(2k − 1)
= − 12π.
k(4k − 1)(4k − 3) 3k
6k
k=1 k 3k
References
[1] T. Amdeberhan and D. Zeilberger, Hypergeometric series acceleration via the WZ
method, Electron. J. Comb. 4 (1997) R3.
[2] J. Au, Colored multiple zeta values, WZ-pairs and some infinite sums, arXiv:
2212.02986.
[3] W. Chu, Hypergeometric series and the Riemann zeta function, Acta Arith. 82 (1997)
103–118.
[4] W. Chu and W. Zhang, Accelerating Dougall’s 5F4-sum and infinite series involving
π, Math. Comput. 83 (2014) 475–512.
[5] J. Guillera, Some binomial series obtained by the WZ-method, Adv. Appl. Math. 29
(2002), 599–603.
[6] J. Guillera, Hypergeometric identities for 10 extended Ramanujan-type series, Ra-
manujan J. 15 (2008), 219–234.
24 Q.-H. HOU AND Z.-W. SUN
[7] C. Li and W. Chu, Infinite series about harmonic numbers inspired by Ramanujan-like
formulae, Electr. Res. Arch. 31(8) (2023) 4611–4636.
[8] S.B. Ekhad and D. Zeilberger, A WZ proof of Ramanujan’s formula for π, In: Geom-
etry, Analysis, and Mechanics, J.M. Rassias Ed., World Scientific, Singapore, 1994,
pp. 107–108.
[9] M. Petkovsěk, H.S. Wilf, and D. Zeilberger, A=B, A K Peters, 1996.
[10] K.H. Pilehrood and T.H. Pilehrood, Bivariate identities for values of the Hurwitz
zeta function and supercongruences, Electr. J. Combin. 18 (2012), no. 2, P35.
[11] Z.-W. Sun, Super congruences and Euler numbers, Sci. China Math. 54 (2011), 2509–
2535.
[12] Z.-W. Sun, Series with summands involving harmonic numbers, in: M. B. Nathanson
(ed.), Combinatorial and Additive Number Theory, Springer, to appear. See also
arXiv:2210.07238.
[13] Z.-W. Sun, New series involving binomial coefficients, arXiv: 2307.03086.
[14] C. Wei, Some fast convergent series for the mathematical constants ζ(4) and ζ(5),
arXiv: 2303.07887.
[15] C. Wei, On some conjectural series containing binomial coefficients and harmonic
numbers, arXiv: 2306.02641.
[16] C. Wei and C. Xu, On some conjectural series containing harmonic numbers of 3-
order, arXiv: 2308.06440.