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Let $n,k$ be integers, and let $U$ be the set of all $n$-ths roots of unity (so there are exactly $n$ elements in $U$). Let $U'=U \setminus \lbrace 1 \rbrace$. Are there simple formulas (in terms of $n$ and $k$) for the sums

$$ S_k=\sum_{\varepsilon \in U'} \frac{\varepsilon^k}{\varepsilon-1}, \ T_k=\sum_{\varepsilon \in U'} \frac{\varepsilon^k}{(\varepsilon-1)^2} $$

Ewan Delanoy
  • 61,600

1 Answers1

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Note that the sums $S_k$ and $T_k$ obviously only depend on $k$ modulo $n$. So for simplicity we may assume wlog that $1\leq k\leq n$.

If $\varepsilon$ is any complex number, we have the algebraic identity

$$ \bigg(\sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1-n)\varepsilon^j\bigg) (\varepsilon-1)-n=n-\bigg(\sum_{j=0}^{n-1} \varepsilon^j\bigg) \tag{1} $$

If, in addition, $\varepsilon\in U'$ then we deduce

$$ \frac{1}{\varepsilon-1}=\frac{1}{n} \sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1-n)\varepsilon^j $$

and hence

$$ S_k=\frac{1}{n} \sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1-n)\sum_{\varepsilon\in U'}\varepsilon^{j+k} $$

and the sum $\sum_{\varepsilon\in U'}\varepsilon^{j+k}$ is $-1$, except when $j+k$ is divisible by $n$, i.e. when $j=n-k$. So

$$ \begin{eqnarray} nS_k &=& (n-1)(1-k)+\sum_{j\neq n-k}^{} (n-(j+1)) \\ &=& (n-1)(1-k)-(k-1)+\sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (n-(j+1)) \\ &=& n(1-k)+\sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (n-(j+1)) \\ &=& n(1-k)+\sum_{j'=0}^{n-1} j’ \\ &=& n(1-k)+n\frac{n-1}{2}=\frac{n(n+1-2k)}{2}. \end{eqnarray} $$

and hence $S_k=\frac{n+1-2k}{2}$. Similarly, if $\varepsilon$ is any complex number, we have the algebraic identity

$$ \bigg(\sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1)(n-(j+1))\varepsilon^j\bigg) (\varepsilon-1)^2-2n=\bigg(\sum_{j=0}^{n-1} \varepsilon^j\bigg)\big( (n-1)\varepsilon-(n+1) \big) $$

If, in addition, $\varepsilon\in U'$ then we deduce

$$ \frac{1}{(\varepsilon-1)^2}=\frac{1}{2n} \sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1)(n-(j+1))\varepsilon^j $$

and hence

$$ T_k=\frac{1}{2n} \sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1)(n-(j+1))\sum_{\varepsilon\in U'}\varepsilon^{j+k} $$

and the sum $\sum_{\varepsilon\in U'}\varepsilon^{j+k}$ is $-1$, except when $j+k$ is divisible by $n$, i.e. when $j=n-k$. So

$$ \begin{eqnarray} (2n)T_k &=& (n-k+1)(k-1)(n-1)+\sum_{j\neq n-k}^{} (j+1)(n-(j+1))(-1) \\ &=& (n-k+1)(k-1)(n-1)+(n-k+1)(k-1) -\sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1)(n-(j+1)) \\ &=& (n-k+1)(k-1)n -\sum_{j=0}^{n-2} (j+1)(n-(j+1)) \\ &=& (n-k+1)(k-1)n -\frac{n^3-n}{6} \end{eqnarray} $$

So we finally have $$ T_k=\frac{6(n-k+1)(k-1)-(n^2-1)}{12} $$

Ewan Delanoy
  • 61,600