# Evaluating the Cauchy product of $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{n+1}}{n+1}$ and $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{3^n}$

Using the Mertens' theorem for Cauchy products we know that the Cauchy product of series $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^{n+1}}{n+1}\qquad\text{and}\qquad\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{3^n}$$ does converge. But how can we try to find the value of this sum?

What I only know is that we can write that this sum equals to $$S=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}c_n\qquad\text{where}\qquad c_n=\sum_{k=0}^{n}\frac{1}{3^{n-k}}\frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k+1}$$ but I'm not able to find any way to calculate the sum. Any hints?

• If I understand correctly, by MERTENS' Theorem, $S$ is equal to the product of the of the initial sums, right? The first is $-\ln(2)$ and the second is $\frac{3}{2}$ by the geometric series. Dec 23 '18 at 12:38
• Yes but how to find it using only the definition of Cauchy product of series? Dec 23 '18 at 12:44
• If you were presented with this sum as a $S$ and asked to evaluate it. I would think that decomposing it (via cauchy product) would be the easiest way of coming to a conclusion. Dec 23 '18 at 16:11

$$S=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{1}{3^n}\sum_{k=0}^n\frac{1}{3^{-k}}\frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k+1}$$

where

$$\sum_{k=0}^n\frac{1}{3^{-k}}\frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k+1}=(-3)^{n+1}\Phi(-3,1,n+2)-\frac{2}{3}\log(2)$$

where $$\Phi(a,b,c)$$ is so-called Lerch transcendent.

Also there is one useful identity: $$\Phi(-3, 1, n+2) = \frac{1}{\Gamma(1)}\int_0^\infty\frac{e^{-(n+2)t}}{1+3e^{-t}}dt$$.

By substitution $$u=1+3e^{-t}$$ (and $$\Gamma(1) = 1$$), this integral leads to

$$\Phi(-3, 1, n+2) = \frac{1}{3^{n+2}}\int_1^4 \frac{(u-1)^{n+1}}{u} du.$$

Plugging it back (observe $$u\in(1,4)$$ for the convergence of the geometric series), we obtain: $$S=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{1}{3^n}\left[(-3)^{n+1}\frac{1}{3^{n+2}}\int_1^4\frac{(u-1)^{n+1}}{u}du-\frac{2}{3}\log(2)\right]=$$ $$=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{1}{3^{n+1}}\int_1^4\frac{(1-u)^{n+1}}{u}du-\log(2)=$$ $$=\int_1^4\frac{1}{u}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\left(\frac{1-u}{3}\right)^{n+1}du - \log(2)=$$ $$=\int_1^4\frac{1}{u}\frac{1-u}{u+2}du-\log(2)=-\frac{3}{2}\log(2)+\log(2)-\log(2)=-\frac{3}{2}\log(2).$$

So yes, indeed the sum converges to $$S=-\frac{3}{2}\log(2)$$.