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I have been struggling with this functional series. $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}{(-1)^{n-1}n^2x^n}$$ I need to calulate the sum.
Any tips would be appreciated.

Matthew Conroy
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alejopelaez
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    This sort of sum can be done by "differentiating/integrating under the sum". Try differentiating or integrating each term with respect to $x$ to get rid of the factors of $n$; if it doesn't work out as is, you might need to pull some power of $x$ outside the sum first. Then when you've gotten rid of the $n^2$, you can evaluate the sum, and then you can do the inverse of the integration/differentiation that you did before to get the final result. – joriki Mar 21 '11 at 17:44

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Try considering what happens when you differentiate the following with respect to $x$:
$1/(1+x) = 1-x+x^2-x^3+x^4...$

That should get you thinking in the right direction.

Carl Brannen
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Note that $n^2=n(n-1)+n$ and hence the given series $\displaystyle\sum\limits_{n\geq 1} n^2 x^n=: f(n;x)$ can be written as

$f(n;x)=\displaystyle\sum_{n\geq 1} n(n-1)x^n+\displaystyle\sum_{n\geq 1} n x^n=f_1(n;x)+f_2(n;x)$ respectively. Let us determine these $f_1(n;x)$ and $f_2(n;x)$ separately.

Now $f_1(n;x)=x^2 \displaystyle\sum_{n\geq 1} n(n-1)x^{n-2}=x^2 \frac{2}{(1+x)^3}=\frac{2x^2}{(1+x)^3}$ by using the fact $(1+x)^{-1}=\displaystyle\sum_{n\geq 1} x^n$ and two times successive differentiation.

On the other hand $f_2(n;x)=-x \frac{1}{(1+x)^2}=\frac{-x}{(1+x)^2}$.

Therefore $f(n;x)=\frac{2x^2}{(1+x)^3}-\frac{x}{(1+x)^2}$

KON3
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Hints:

If you divide your series by $x$ and then integrate it, it might be a little simpler.

Then ask yourself what you can do to make it even simpler. If you are lucky you will eventually end up with a geometric series where you know the answer.

Then undo all the steps you have taken (in reverse order), and you should have a solution to your original question.

Henry
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Incorporate $-1$ into $x$. Now consider the derivatives of $\sum z^n$. How can you get $n^2$ to show up?

lhf
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The ratio of convergence is $$\limsup_{n\to\infty}\frac{1}{\sqrt[n]{n^2}}=1,$$ so the series in convergent on $(-1;1)$. Now if move one $x$ factor before the sum, so that the exponent of $x$ in the sum is $n-1$, what happens if you integrate elementwise? Repeat!

scineram
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