# Sum of infinite terms of $\cot^{-1}(2)+\cot^{-1}\bigl(\frac{9}{2}\bigr)+\cot^{-1}(8)+\cot^{-1}\bigl(\frac{25}{2}\bigr)+\cot^{-1}(18)+…$

How can we find sum of infinite terms of the series: $$\cot^{-1}(2)+\cot^{-1}\biggl(\frac{9}{2}\biggr)+\cot^{-1}(8)+\cot^{-1}\biggl(\frac{25}{2}\biggr)+\cot^{-1}(18)+ \dots$$

The difference of argument is in A.P. but it does not seem to be valuable. Could someone provide some hint?

HINT:

The series can be written

$$\sum_{n=2}^\infty \text{arccot}\left(\frac{n^2}{2}\right) \tag 1$$

Then, note that

$$\text{arccot}(x)=\frac1x+O\left(\frac{1}{x^3}\right) \tag 2$$

as $x\to \infty$

SPOILER ALERT: Scroll over the highlighted area to reveal the solution

From $(1)$ and $(2)$, we see that the series converges by comparison with $\sum_{n=2}^\infty \frac{1}{n^2}$. Then, we can write the summands as $$\text{arccot}\left(\frac{n^2}{2}\right)=\text{arccot}\left(\frac{n+2}{n}\right)-\text{arccot}\left(\frac{n}{n-2}\right)$$which provides a telescoping series. To evaluate the limit, we have \begin{align}\sum_{n=2}^N\left(\text{arccot}\left(\frac{n+2}{n}\right)-\text{arccot}\left(\frac{n}{n-2}\right)\right)&=\text{arccot}\left(\frac{N+2}{N}\right)\\\\&+\text{arccot}\left(\frac{N+1}{N-1}\right)\\\\&-\text{arccot}\left(3\right)\\\\&\to \frac{\pi}{2}-\text{arccot}(3)\,\,\text{as}\,\,N\to \infty\end{align}

• This clearly gives the asymptotic behavior, but does it in fact yield the exact sum (if it converges)? – Brian Tung Apr 9 '16 at 19:14
• @BrianTung It obviously converges by the comparison test. To find the sum, one needs to use the hint and telescope. – Mark Viola Apr 9 '16 at 19:23
• Sorry, I knew it converged; I was trying not to divulge that. – Brian Tung Apr 9 '16 at 20:25
• @BrianTung No need to apologize. The initial hint was not clear enough so I added a new section. -Mark – Mark Viola Apr 9 '16 at 20:47

Similarly as in Find sum of the Trignomertric series, you can use the identity $$\DeclareMathOperator{\arccot}{arccot} \arccot(x) - \arccot(y) = \arccot\left(\frac{xy+1}{y-x}\right)$$ to conclude that $$\arccot \frac{n+2}{n} - \arccot \frac{n}{n-2} = \arccot \frac{n^2}{2}$$ which allows to write your series as a sum of two telescoping series.