# Does this Newton series describe an interesting function, if any?

I was reading about how the harmonic numbers are analogues to the logarithm in that $\displaystyle \log(x) = \int \frac{1}{x}dx$ and $\displaystyle H_x = \sum \frac{1}{1+x} \delta x$

Where indefinite summation is the inverse operator of $\Delta f(x) = f(x+1) - f(x)$ and $\frac{1}{x+1} = x^{\underline{-1}}$

$$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k} \frac{x^{\underline{k}}}{k!} \hspace{10mm} (1)$$

But even though the proof makes sense I feel like it should have been $$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k} {x^{\underline{k}}} \hspace{10mm} (2)$$

As it mirrors the familiar Mercator series for the logarithm.

In other cases such as the "discrete exp" $2^x$ we have the Newton series which works nicely thanks to the binomial theorem.

$$\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \frac{x^{\underline{k}}}{k!}$$ which perfectly mirrors $e^x$ 's power series.

My question is, if (1) is right series, what does (2) define, if anything, and why the discrepancy?

• The summation must start with $k=1$ and according to Wolfram alpha, the result is : wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sum(k%3D1,infinity,(-1)%5E(k%2B1)*x%5Ek%2Fk!%2Fk) – Peter Jan 4 '18 at 16:34
• thanks for spotting fixed now, your link is for something different though no? – Theo Diamantakis Jan 4 '18 at 16:36
• Not sure,whether the link works properly : The function is $$f(x)=\ln(x)+\Gamma(0,x)+\gamma$$ where $\gamma$ is the Euler-Mascheroni-constant and $\Gamma(x,y)$ the incomplete Gamma-function – Peter Jan 4 '18 at 16:38
• A proof will require the series of the incomplete gamma-function, apparently it must begin with $-\gamma-\ln(x)$ , containing the diverging (for $x\rightarrow 0$) term $\ln(x)$. We have $$\Gamma(0,x)=\int_x^{\infty} \frac{e^{-t}}{t} dt$$ Maybe this helps. – Peter Jan 4 '18 at 16:45
• @Theo $f(1)=1$, observe that $x^\underline k=0$ if $x\in\Bbb N$ and $k>x$. – Masacroso Jan 4 '18 at 17:35

Well, I didnt noticed before but observe that if $x\in\Bbb C\setminus\Bbb N$ then the sequence $\{(-1)^{k+1}x^\underline k/k\}_{k\in\Bbb N}$ doesnt converges in $\Bbb C$. In any case: $\lim_{n\to\infty}|x^\underline n/n|=\infty$ for any $x\in\Bbb C\setminus\Bbb N$, then these sequences cannot define a convergent series.
By the other hand, when $x\in\Bbb N$, then $x^\underline k=0$ when $k>x$, so the series reduces to a finite sum, that is
$$\sum_{k=1}^\infty(-1)^{k+1}\frac{x^\underline k}k=\sum_{k=1}^x(-1)^{k+1}\frac{x^\underline k}k,\quad\text{when }x\in\Bbb N$$
Then certainly your series in $(2)$ fails to define a function that represent the generalized harmonic numbers.
Also observe that, contrary to the Mercator series, your series defined by $(1)$ converges for a wide range of values of $x$ (I guess, but not totally sure now, for all complex $x$ such that ${\rm Re}(x)>0$). Thus it cannot be compared directly to the Mercator series who radius of convergence is just $1$.