Calculus – Evaluate $\sum^\infty_{n=1} \frac{1}{n^4}$ Using Parseval’s Theorem

calculusfourier seriessequences-and-series

Evaluate $\sum^\infty_{n=1} \frac{1}{n^4} $using Parseval's theorem (Fourier series).

I have , somehow, to find the sum of $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^4}$ using Parseval's theorem.

I tried some things that didn't work so I won't post them.

Can you please explain me how do I find the sum of this series using Parseval's identity?

Thanks

Best Answer

Let $f(x)=x^2$ for $x\in(-\pi,\pi)$. Computing the Fourier coefficients gives

$$a_n=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^\pi x^2 e^{i n x} dx=\frac{2 \cos(\pi n)}{n^2}=2\frac{(-1)^n}{n^2}$$

for $n\in\mathbb{Z}$, $n\not=0$, and $a_0=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^\pi x^2 dx=\frac{\pi^2}{3}$.

Therefore $|a_n|^2=\frac{4}{n^4}$ for $n\in\mathbb{Z}$, $n\not=0$ and $|a_0|^2=\frac{\pi^4}{9}$.

By Plancherel/Parseval's theorem,

$$\frac{\pi^4}{9}+8\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^4}=\sum_{n=-\infty}^\infty |a_n|^2=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{-\pi}^\pi x^4 dx=\frac{\pi^4}{5}$$

Simplifying, this gives

$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^4}=\frac{\pi^4}{8}\left(\frac{1}{5}-\frac{1}{9}\right)=\frac{\pi^4}{90}$$