I was looking for a way to assign a value to a divergent series and invented a formula myself. Here it is:
Suppose we want to assign a value to $$\lim_{n\to\infty} f(n)$$ where $f$ is some polymial. We introduce two symbols: $\omega$ and $\Delta$ with the property that $\omega * \Delta = 1$. These symbols represent infinity and an infinitesimal.
The Jippe value $f_\omega$ (my name is Jippe) is then obtained by the following formula: $$f_\omega = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \frac{\Delta^k}{k+1} f(\omega) \mod \omega $$ Here $\mod \omega$ means replacing all $\omega$ and $\Delta$ in the resulting expression with $0$.
As an example we calculate the Jippe value of $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} n$$ For every finite sum we have $$f(N) = \sum_{n=1}^{N-1} n = \frac{N(N-1)}{2}$$ Now $$f(\omega) = \frac{\omega(\omega-1)}{2} = \frac{\omega^2}{2}-\frac{\omega}{2}$$ $$f(\omega) \mod \omega = \frac{0}{2}-\frac{0}{2} = 0$$ $$\frac{\Delta}{2} f(\omega) = \frac{\Delta\omega^2}{4}-\frac{\Delta\omega}{4} = \frac{\omega}{4}-\frac{1}{4} = -\frac{1}{4} \mod \omega $$ $$\frac{\Delta^2}{3} f(\omega) = \frac{\Delta^2\omega^2}{6}-\frac{\Delta^2\omega}{6} = \frac{1}{6}-\frac{\Delta}{6} = \frac{1}{6} \mod \omega $$ $$f_{\omega} = -\frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{6} = -\frac{1}{12}$$ This value is the same as the value of the Riemann Zeta function at $s=-1$ that also corresponds to this series. I have tested to see if the Jippe value is the same as the Riemann Zeta function for its values at $s=0$, $s=-2$ and $s=-3$ and found that $$\Bigl(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} 1\Bigr)_\omega = \zeta(0) = -\frac{1}{2}$$ $$\Bigl(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} n^2\Bigr)_\omega = \zeta(-2) = 0$$ $$\Bigl(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} n^3\Bigr)_\omega = \zeta(-3) = -\frac{1}{120}$$ Take note that it matters where you start your function. If we take $$f(N) = \sum_{n=1}^{N-1} n,\quad g(N) = \sum_{n=1}^{N} n$$ Then $f_\omega = -\frac{1}{12}$ and $g_\omega = \frac{5}{12}$, which are not equal. To get the values alligned with the Riemann Zeta function, we need $f(1)=0$.
I also have a different formula that gives the same values at least on these negative integers. Here it is: $$f_\omega = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} (-1)^k \frac{\Delta^k}{k+1} f(\omega+1) \mod \omega $$
I want to know
- Is this "result" new or does it exist already in some form.
- I want to know if this method is rigorous and unambiguous, that is: You get the same result no matter how you twist and turn. I know that series can be rewritten and then the Jippe value will change, but the corresponding function of the finite sum then also changes. By setting $f(1)=0$ and using the finite sum upto $N-1$ I think this is a well defined function.
- The series for which I have tested this all have a polynomial as their finite sums. Is there a "nice" formula for $\sum_{n=1}^{N} n^{-s}$ with $s \in \Bbb{C}$ or some specific values other than the above? (like s=1, s=1/2 or s=-1/2)
(I originally left the below out of the post as I think the post is very long)
The Jippe value can be generalized for $x^s, s \in \Bbb{C}$ as $(x^s)_\omega = \frac{\Delta^s}{s+1} \omega^s = \frac{1}{s+1}$. The formula proposed is then $$f_\omega = \sum_{k \in \Bbb{C}} \frac{\Delta^k}{k+1} f(\omega) \mod \omega $$
Also if a general function $f$ has $\lim_{x\to\infty} f(x)-g(x) = 0$ for a function $g$, we could say they have the same Jippe value. For convergent series the Jippe value then equal to the value of the series as $g(x)$ is a constant. A lot of values can then be calculated. For example I have $(e^x)_\omega = e + 1$ using Taylor Series, or $(-\frac{x^2}{1+x})_\omega = \frac{1}{2}$ using $\lim_{x\to\infty} (-\frac{x^2}{1+x} - (1-x)) = 0$