The limit of the alternating series $x - x^2 + x^4 - x^8 + {x^{16}}-\dotsb$ as $x \to 1$

Question

I want to calculate the limit of this sum :

$$\lim\limits_{x \to 1} {\left(x - x^2 + x^4 - x^8 + {x^{16}}-\dotsb\right)}$$

My efforts to solve the problem are described in the self-answer below.

Answer 1

From here is the amazing solution:

Since $S$ satisfies the functional equation $$S(x) = x − S(x^2)$$ it is clear that if $S(x)$ has a limit as $x$ approaches 1 then that limit must be $1/2$. One might guess that $S(x)$ in fact approaches $1/2$, and numerical computation supports this guess — at first. But once $x$ increases past $0.9$ or so, the approach to $1/2$ gets more and more erratic, and eventually we find that $S(0.995) = 0.50088\ldots > 1/2$. Iterating the functional equation, we find $S(x) = x − x^2 + S(x^4) > S(x^4)$. Therefore the fourth root, 16th root, 64th root, … of $0.995$ are all values of x for which $S(x) > S(0.995) > 1/2$. Since these roots approach $1$, we conclude that in fact $S(x)$ cannot tend to $1/2$ as $x$ approaches $1$, and thus has no limit at all! So what does $S(x)$ do as $x$ approaches $1$? It oscillates infinitely many times, each oscillation about 4 times quicker than the previous one; If we change variables from x to $\log_4(\log(1/x))$, we get in the limit an odd periodic oscillation of period 1 that's almost but not quite sinusoidal, with an amplitude of approximately $0.00275$. Remarkably, the Fourier coefficients can be obtained exactly, but only in terms of the Gamma function evaluated at the pure imaginary number $\pi i / \ln(2)$ and its odd multiples!

Answer 2

Based on a paper "Summability of alternating gap series" by J.P. Keating and J.B.Reade in year $2000$, (an online copy can be found here) , one can use Poisson summation formula to show $$ S(x) =\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n x^{2^n} = \frac12 x + \frac{2}{\log 2} \Re\sum_{n=0}^\infty\left( \frac{\Gamma(\alpha_n i)}{\lambda^{\alpha_n i}} - \sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^k}{k!}\frac{\lambda^k}{\alpha_n i + k} \right)$$ where $\alpha_n = \frac{(2n+1)\pi}{\log 2}$ and $x = e^{-\lambda}$.

As $x \to 1^{-}$, $S(x) - \frac12 x$ will be dominated by the first term ( the term for $\alpha_0$ ) which oscillate with amplitude

$$\frac{2}{\log 2}\left|\Gamma\left(\frac{\pi i}{\log 2}\right)\right| = \frac{2}{\sqrt{\log 2\sinh(\pi^2/\log 2)}} \sim 0.00275 $$ and periodic in $\log_2 \lambda = \frac{\log\log\frac1x}{\log 2}$ with period $2$.

Please look at the paper mentioned above for more details.

Answer 3

We can define a rotation point when the curve switches its direction from increasing ordinates to decreasing values as x advances.

So when we try to locate those points in our polynomial, the derivative of this function must be 0 in that abscissa.

$$fn'(x)={1-2x+4x^3-......(-|+)2^n x^{2^n-1}}$$

This polynomial has (n-1) factors, which means that $fn'(x)=0$ has $(n-1)$ solutions which implies that there are $(n-1)$ deviation points in our graph.

When $n$ tends to infinity we have limitless deviations as shown in this graph:

Well, consequently, our limit is hovering endlessly between $0.5+λ$ and $0.5-λ$ with $λ$ extremely small -- it may even be zero!

Finally, we can say that the function is diverging, and the limit doesn't exist.

Answer 4

• After consulting @achille hui's answer, looking on this paper he/she brought, I found an approbation to my answer posted awhile ago at the bottom of the page -97- proven by Hardy in this book.Well, I came little bit late :p.

-"for $k$ even. Therefore, the limit as $x->\infty$ does not exist: $y_n$ has maxima whose heights tend to $\frac{2}{3}$, and minima whose heights tend to $\frac{1}{3}$. Hence the series is not Cesaro summable. It then follows from the second of the results quoted above that neither can it be Abel summable (because the partial sums $s_m$ are bounded). Hardy gave a direct proof of this in 2. The question we address here is: what is the asymptotic form of the gap series (1.1) in this case as $i -> 1$"

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Well as this graph illustrates that f(x) oscillates infinitly between $0.5+\delta$ and $0.5-\delta$ . now , need to prove it analytically since an algebric way would be tooo long.

so when f(x) changes direction as x tends to 1 means .

I tried to zoom in the behavior of the graph at the nearest right of x=1 using variable substitution :

x -> 1

$sin(( \frac{x-1}{a}+ \frac{1}{2}) \Pi)$ -> 1 with closer values

The graph i received looks like this :

Matlab code :

syms x;syms k;for i=1 : 50
f=@(x) sin((1/(i)*(x-1)+1/2)*pi);
y= f(x)+symsum(((-1)^k)*(f(x)^(2^k)),k,1,10+i);
a=ezplot(y,-1,1);
grid;
pause(0.1);
delete(a);
end

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Now lets find out the upper and lower limits:

Lets prove firstly that the curve is changing direction endlessly as x gets closer to 1.

$f'(x)= 1-2x+4x^3-...+(-1)^{k+1}x^{2^k+1}$

$lim_{x\rightarrow 1} f'(x)= \pm \inf$

the limit sways between $+inf$ and $-inf$ it means it crosses x-axis repeatedly infinite number of times, this can be proved by reccurence but lets do it easy way since it is not the aim of this question.

to prove that $f'(x)$ changes diection infinitely it suffices to prove that $lim_{x\rightarrow 1} f'(x) \neq f'(1) $

$f'(x=1)=f'(x²=1)=1-2(x=1)f'(x²=1)$

$f'(1)=1-2f'(1)$

$f'(1)=\frac{1}{3}$

f'(x) has an average limit between $+\inf$ and $-\inf$ which is not one of those, that is a blatant proof that $0.5$ isnt the real limit of $f(x)$.

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Now lets find the mysterious limit.

$$xf'(x) = x-2x²+4x^4 ...$$

$$x²f'(x²) = x²-2x^4 +4x^8..$$

$$....$$

$$x^n f'(x^n) = x^n-2x^{2n}+4x^{4n}...$$

So,

$$f(x) = xf'(x) + x²f'(x²)-x^4f'(x^4)...$$

$$f(x) = xf'(x) + \frac{x(f'(x)-1)}{(-2)} - \frac{x(f'(x)-1+2X)}{2²}+\frac{x(f'(x)-1+2X-4x^3)}{-2^3} ... $$

the derived $f'(x)$ is nil when $f(x)$ is at the level of either its lower or higher summit, lets denote $x_0$ the group of abscissas where the curve of $f(x)$ changes direction from $l+\delta$ to $l-\delta$.

$f(x_0)=l \pm \delta $ means $f'(x_0)=0$

as $f'(x_0)=0$ at any $x_0$ where $f(x)$ reaches its upper or lower summit $l+\delta$ or $l-\delta$,

$$f(x_0) = x+ \frac{x_0(-1)}{(-2)} - \frac{x_0(-1+2x_0)}{2²}+\frac{x_0(-1+2x_0-4x_0^3)}{-2^3} ... $$

and since $x_0\rightarrow 1$,

$$\lim_{x_0\rightarrow 1} f(x_0)=(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1-2}{2²}+\frac{1-2+4}{2^3}+...)=\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{4}+\frac{3}{8}-\frac{5}{15}+\frac{11}{32}-...=0.333 or 0.666$$

the mysterious limits are:

$l=\frac{1}{2} \pm (\frac{1}{6}) $

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if we take deeper look (using last trigonometric magnifier) at functions $f(x)$ and $f(x_0)$ we should notice remarkable matching

$f(x)=x+\sum_k {(-1)^k x^{2^k}}$

$f(x_0)=x_0.\sum_k (\frac{1}{2^k} \sum_l ((-1)^l 2^l x_0^{2^l-1})$

syms k;syms l;x=-1:0.1:1;
for i=1 : 1000
f=@(x) sin((1/i.*(x-1)+1./2).*pi);
y=@(x,n) f(x)+symsum(((-1).^k).*(f(x).^(2.^k)),k,1,n);
yy=@(x,n) f(x).* symsum((1./2.^k).*symsum((-1).^l.*2.^l.*f(x).^(2.^l-1),l,0,k-1),k,1,n);
a=plot(x,y(x,i),'Color', [0.5, 1.0, 0.0], 'LineStyle', '--');
hold on;
b=plot(x,yy(x,i+1),'Color', [1.0, 0.0, 0.5]);
set(gca, 'XLim',[-1 1], 'YLim',[-1 2]);
grid;
pause(0.1);
delete(a);
delete(b);
grid;
end

similitude of two curves:

syms x;syms k;syms l;
for i=1 : 1000
y=@(x,n) (x)+symsum(((-1)^k)*((x)^(2^k)),k,1,n);
yy=@(x,n) (x)* symsum((1/2^k)*symsum((-1)^l*2^l*(x)^(2^l-1),l,0,k-1),k,1,n);
a=ezplot(y(x,i));
set(gca, 'colororder', [1, 0.5, 0.753;0.5, 0.5, 1;1, 1, 0.753]);
hold on;
b=ezplot(yy(x,i+1));
set(gca, 'colororder', [0.1, 0.3, 0.53;0.35, 0.85, 1;1, 0.1, 0.73]);
legend({'y' 'yy'}, 'Location','NorthWest')
grid;
pause(0.1);
delete(a);
delete(b);
grid;
end

snapshots: ($f_n(x)$,$f_{n+1}(x_0)$)

n=1

n=3

n=6

n=9

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• note:

-I know it has a high probability of being wrong but, that is well argumented, and any critics should be also well argumented. thanks.

Answer 5

This is a copy of my answer in mathoverflow which I've linked to in my OP's comment but it might really be overlooked

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This is more an extended comment than an answer.

I refer to your function $$ f(x) = \sum_{k=0}^\infty (-1)^k x^{2^k} \qquad \qquad 0 \lt x \lt 1 \tag 1$$ and as generalization $$ f_b(x)= \sum_{k=0}^\infty (-1)^k x^{b^k} \qquad \qquad 1 \lt b \tag 2$$

[update 8'2016] The same values as for the function $g(x)$ as described below one gets seemingly simply by the completing function of $f(x)$ -the sum where the index goes to negative infinity, such that, using Cesarosummation $\mathfrak C$ for the alternating divergent series in $h(x)$ , we have that $$h(x) \underset{\mathfrak C}=\sum_{k=1}^\infty (-1)^k x^{2^{-k}} \qquad \qquad \underset{\text{apparently } }{=} -g(x) \tag{2.1} $$ (Note, the index starts at $1$) .
The difference-curve $d(x)$ as shown in the pictures of my original answer below occurs then similarly by $$d(x)= h(x)+f(x) \underset{\mathfrak C}= \sum_{k=-\infty}^\infty (-1)^k x^{2^k} \tag {2.2}$$ Using the derivation provided in @Zurab Silagadze's answer I get the alternative description (using the constants $l_2=\log(2)$ and $\rho = \pi i/l_2$ ) $$ d^*(x) {\underset{ \small \begin{smallmatrix}\lambda=\log(1/x) \\ \tau = \lambda^\rho \end{smallmatrix}}{=}} \quad {2\over l_2 } \sum_{\begin{matrix}k=0 \\ j=2k+1 \end{matrix}}^\infty \Re\left[{\Gamma( \rho \cdot j ) \over \tau^j}\right] \tag {2.3}$$ which agrees numerically very well with the direct computation of $d(x)$.
(I don't have yet a guess about the relevance of this, though, and whether $d(x)$ has also some other, especially closed form, representation)
[end update]

To get possibly more insight into the nature of the "wobbling" I also looked at the (naive) expansion into double-series. By writing $u=\ln(x)$ and expansion of the powers of $x$ into exponential-series we get the following table: $$ \small \begin{array} {r|rr|rrrrrrrrrrrrrr} +x & & +\exp(u) &&= +(& 1&+u&+u^2/2!&+u^3/3!&+...&) \\ -x^2 & & -\exp(2u)& &= -(& 1&+2u&+2^2u^2/2!&+2^3u^3/3!&+...&) \\ +x^4 & & +\exp(4u)& &= +(& 1&+4u&+4^2u^2/2!&+4^3u^3/3!&+...&) \\ -x^8 & & -\exp(8u)& &= -(& 1&+8u&+8^2u^2/2!&+8^3u^3/3!&+...&) \\ \vdots & & \vdots & \\ \hline f(x) & & ??? &g(x) &=( & 1/2 & +{1 \over1+2} u &+{1 \over1+2^2} {u^2 \over 2!} &+{1 \over1+2^3} {u^3 \over 3!} & +... &) \end{array}$$ where $g(x)$ is computed using the closed forms of the alternating geometric series along the columns.
The naive expectation is, that $f(x)=g(x)$ but which is not true. However, $$g(x)=\sum_{k=0}^\infty {(\ln x)^k\over (1+2^k) k! } \tag 3 $$ is still a meaningful construct: it defines somehow a monotonuous increasing "core-function" for the wobbly function $f(x)$ , perhaps so to say a functional "center of gravity".
The difference $$d(x)=f(x)-g(x) \tag 4$$ captures then perfectly the oscillatory aspect of $f(x)$. Its most interesting property is perhaps, that it seems to have perfectly constant amplitude ($a \approx 0.00274922$) . The wavelength however is variable and well described by the transformed value $x=1-4^{-y}$ as already stated by others. With this transformation the wavelength approximates $1$ very fast and very well for variable $y$.

For the generalizations $f_b(x)$ with $b \ne 2$ the amplitude increases with $b$, for instance for $b=4$ we get the amplitude $A \approx 0.068$ and for $b=2^{0.25}$ is $a \approx 3e-12$

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Here are pictures of the function $f(x)$, $g(x)$ and $d(x)= f(x)-g(x)$ :

The blue line and the magenta line are nicely overlaid over the whole range $0<x<1$ and the amplitude of the red error-curve (the $y$-scale is at the right side) seems to be constant.
In the next picture I rescaled also the x-axis logarithmically (I've used the hint from Robert Israel's anwer to apply the exponentials to base $4$):

Having the x-axis a logarithmic scale, the curve of the $d(x)$ looks like a perfect sine-wave (with a slight shift in wave-length). If this is true, then because $g(0)=1/2$ the non-vanishing oscillation of $f(x)$, focused in the OP, when $x \to 1$ is obvious because it's just the oscillation of the $d(x)$-curve...
For the more critical range near $y=0.5$ I've a zoomed picture for this:

But from here my expertise is exhausted and I've no tools to proceed. First thing would be to look at the Fourier-decomposition of $d(x)$ which might be simpler than that of $f(x)$. Possibly we have here something like in the Ramanujan-summation of divergent series where we have to add some integral to complete the divergent sums, but I really don't know.