# Evaluating a limit, $\lim_{t\rightarrow 0^{+}} {\sum_{n=1} ^{\infty} \frac{\sqrt{t}}{1+tn^2}}$

It seems that the following limit exists. But I couldn't figure out the exact value. Anyone could help me? Thanks! \begin{align*} \lim_{t\rightarrow 0^{+}} {\sum_{n=1} ^{\infty} \frac{\sqrt{t}}{1+tn^2}} \end{align*}

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I was about to write an answer... anyway, your series can be derived from the partial fraction series for the hyperbolic cotangent, which leads to the limit $$\frac12\lim_{t\to 0^+} \left(\pi\coth\frac{\pi}{\sqrt t}-\sqrt t\right)$$ ... on the other hand, $\pi/2$ is the answer that I seem to be getting. –  Ｊ. Ｍ. Aug 17 '11 at 5:13
Ah, you're right J.M.; I don't think we can interchange the sum and limit here, since $\frac{\sqrt{t}}{1+tn^2}$ decays too slowly. –  Zev Chonoles Aug 17 '11 at 5:19
@J.M. : This is not very satisfying... –  Patrick Da Silva Aug 17 '11 at 5:20
Right, so I haven't written an answer yet @Patrick, and merely left it as a comment. I have to go to my lunch now, and maybe finish this later unless somebody can fill the gaps in my idea. –  Ｊ. Ｍ. Aug 17 '11 at 5:25
@Patrick: I beg to differ. –  anon Aug 17 '11 at 5:47

Hint: $$\sqrt t \int_1^\infty {\frac{1}{{1 + tx^2 }}\,dx} = \int_{\sqrt t }^\infty {\frac{1}{{1 + x^2 }}\,dx} \to \frac{\pi }{2}.$$

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Nice! $\text{}$ –  Ｊ. Ｍ. Aug 17 '11 at 6:06
@J. M. - Thanks. –  Shai Covo Aug 17 '11 at 6:08
Like a bawss. +1, and OP should definitely accept this one. –  Patrick Da Silva Aug 17 '11 at 6:30
@Patrick - Thanks. –  Shai Covo Aug 17 '11 at 6:33
@Shai, thank you. I tried this before I asked the question. But I failed to see that $\lim\limits_{t\rightarrow 0^{+}} |{\sum\limits_{n=1} ^{\infty} \frac{\sqrt{t}}{1+tn^2}}-\int\limits_0^\infty {\frac{\sqrt t }{{1 + tx^2 }}\,dx}|=0$. Now I could see that the difference is actually controlled by $\sqrt{t}$. –  Syang Chen Aug 17 '11 at 14:06

Note the hyperbolic cotangent identity

$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{1}{z^2+n^2} =\frac{\pi z \coth(\pi z)-1}{2z^2}.$$

Replace $t$ with $t^2$ for convenience. Then

$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{t}{1+t^2n^2} =\frac{1}{t}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{t^{-2}+n^2}=\frac{1}{2} \left[\pi\coth(\pi/t)-t\right].$$

Observe that $\coth(s)\to1$ as $s\to\infty$ and $t\to0$, so the limit is $\pi/2$.

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Thanks for finishing! –  Ｊ. Ｍ. Aug 17 '11 at 5:51
J.M.: Seems my only real contribution was noticing $\coth \infty = 1$ ;) –  anon Aug 17 '11 at 5:57
@Patrick: proving that partial fraction decomposition in here would require a bit of length, unfortunately... :P You might enjoy this; it should be nicely readable... –  Ｊ. Ｍ. Aug 17 '11 at 6:47
@J.M., this solution is eye-opening for me. Thanks! –  Syang Chen Aug 17 '11 at 13:56
"random shitty identity" - ??? Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad... :) –  The Chaz 2.0 Aug 17 '11 at 18:59
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