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An interesting problem is to prove that: $$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{F_{2n}}{n^2 \binom{2n}{n}}=\frac{4\pi^2}{25 \sqrt 5}. $$

I know the proof, which uses the fact that $\dfrac{1}{n\binom{2n}{n}}=\int\limits_{0}^{1}t^n(1-t)^{n-1}dt$, but my question is: is there some really elementary way to prove it?

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    Are you going to post your own answer to this? – Michael Hardy Jul 26 '15 at 19:48
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    If it is easy, why do you have to ask it here? This site is not meant for giving excersises to others, but this site is meant to ask for help if you are stuck. However, you can ask a question and self-answer it, that is, in fact, encouraged. – wythagoras Jul 26 '15 at 19:48
  • Not meant? Maybe it should. – Danil Krotkov Jul 26 '15 at 19:49
  • @wythagoras you should have stated that as an opinion, as that's clearly not the point. Op clearly get's the underlying reason many people answer "questions" here. Besides, seeing something done a different way can be educational in its own right. – Zach466920 Jul 26 '15 at 19:50
  • What's the question? – Rob Arthan Jul 26 '15 at 20:08
  • This, and this should be helpful. – Noam Shalev - nospoon Jul 26 '15 at 20:20
  • MSE is not designed as a homework-solving platform or a training platform: the OP should be aware of that, but the problem in itself is really interesting, so I am quite against closing votes. It is related with the famous problem of finding the Taylor series of $\arcsin(z)^2$, with some special values for the dilogarithm and with the Euler acceleration technique. Please leave it here. – Jack D'Aurizio Jul 26 '15 at 20:54
  • @JackD'Aurizio: so what is the problem/question and what is the point of leaving it on MSE? – Rob Arthan Jul 26 '15 at 21:11
  • @RobArthan: I think this question will be mentioned in a future blogpost of mine about that topic (dilogarithms, Euler acceleration method, squared arcsine, Catalan identity and so on). – Jack D'Aurizio Jul 26 '15 at 21:14
  • A more cunning question is: why to remove it from where it is? The question, together with its answers, may turn useful/insightful for other users, now or in the future. – Jack D'Aurizio Jul 26 '15 at 21:16
  • @JackD'Aurizio: the possibility of a reference in your blog isn't a good reason for keeping this post on MSE unless it's turned into a proper question. Please conspire with the OP to frame it as an interesting question if you want to keep it here. – Rob Arthan Jul 26 '15 at 21:17
  • @RobArthan: I do not agree with your opinion, but anyway I "started conspiring". – Jack D'Aurizio Jul 26 '15 at 21:21
  • @JackD'Aurizio: so providing raw material for your blog is a goal of MSE? – Rob Arthan Jul 26 '15 at 21:27
  • @RobArthan: not my blog, the MSE blog - http://math.blogoverflow.com/ – Jack D'Aurizio Jul 26 '15 at 21:31

2 Answers2

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$$\begin{eqnarray*}\sum_{n\geq 1}\frac{x^n}{n^2 \binom{2n}{n}}&=&\sum_{n\geq 1}\frac{(n-1)!^2}{(2n)!} x^n = \sum_{n\geq 1}B(n,n)\frac{x^n}{2n}=\int_{0}^{1}\sum_{n\geq 1}y^{n-1}(1-y)^{n-1}\frac{x^n}{2n}\\&=&-\frac{1}{2}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log(1-xy+xy^2)}{y(1-y)}\,dy\end{eqnarray*} $$ hence by taking $\sigma_+=\frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{2}$ and $\sigma_-=\frac{3-\sqrt{5}}{2}$:

$$\begin{eqnarray*}\sum_{n\geq 1}\frac{F_{2n}}{n^2\binom{2n}{n}}&=&-\frac{1}{2\sqrt{5}}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log(1-\sigma_{+}(y-y^2))-\log(1-\sigma_{-}(y-y^2))}{y(1-y)}\,dy\\&=&-\frac{2}{\sqrt{5}}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log(1-\sigma_+(1-u^2)/4)-\log(1-\sigma_-(1-u^2)/4)}{1-u^2}\,du\end{eqnarray*}$$ and the last integral can be computed by exploiting the well-known relations between the dilogarithm and the golden ratio. Another technique is shown in one of the answers I am most proud of, a cooperative work by me, achille hui and Bhenni Benghorbal. It gives that the problem boils down to computing a squared arcsine.

Jack D'Aurizio
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  • Yes, right. Sorry, I really thought that there might be another way to prove it. Popped up in my mind after reading this interesting article http://pracownicy.uksw.edu.pl/mwolf/Poorten_MI_195_0.pdf – Danil Krotkov Jul 26 '15 at 20:19
  • @DanilKrotkov: that article is great. I don't if there is a really elementary way to prove your claim. Usually one computes special values for the dilogarithm by playing with the Euler-Landen identites and the reflection formulas. – Jack D'Aurizio Jul 26 '15 at 20:22
  • @DanilKrotkov: anyway, have a look at my updated answer. – Jack D'Aurizio Jul 26 '15 at 20:38
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Hint: In general, $~\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(2x)^{2n}}{n^2\displaystyle{2n\choose n}}~=~2\arcsin^2x.~$ Use this in conjunction with Binet's formula for Fibonacci numbers.

Lucian
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