[Math] Multiplication of sums

summation

In this set of online math notes the following is stipulated:

$$\left(\sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n\right)\left(\sum_{n=0}^\infty b_n\right) =\sum_{n=0}^\infty (c_n) $$

Where apparently $c_n = \sum_{i=0}^n a_ib_{n-i}$. Replacing $c_n$ into above equation we get

$$\left(\sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n\right)\left(\sum_{n=0}^\infty b_n\right) =\sum_{n=0}^\infty \left(\sum_{i=0}^n a_ib_{n-i}\right) $$

I tried to expand a few terms of $c_n$ using sympy:

$$ {c}_{0} = \sum_{i=0}^{0} {a}_{i} {b}_{- i} = {a}_{0} {b}_{0} $$
$$ {c}_{1} = \sum_{i=0}^{1} {a}_{i} {b}_{- i + 1} = {a}_{0} {b}_{1} + {a}_{1} {b}_{0} $$
$$ {c}_{2} = \sum_{i=0}^{2} {a}_{i} {b}_{- i + 2} = {a}_{0} {b}_{2} + {a}_{1} {b}_{1} + {a}_{2} {b}_{0} $$

Then I ran this example on a verifiable multiplication of sums as follows:

$$(2+x+2x^2)(3-5x+x^2) = 6-7x+3x^2-9x^3+2x^4$$

By setting
\begin{equation*}
a_0 = 2, a_1 = x, a_2 = 2x^2
\end{equation*}

and
\begin{equation*}
b_0 = 3, b_1 = -5x, b_2 = x^2
\end{equation*}

Following the online reference this should equal
$$\sum_{n=0}^2 c_n =c_0+c_1+c_2 =a_0b_0+a_0b_1+a_1b_0+a_0b_2+a_1b_1+a_2b_0 $$

However when you substitute in the values you get
$$ 3 x^{2} – 7 x + 6 $$
Which is not equal to $6-7x+3x^2-9x^3+2x^4$.

I have a feeling the notes are wrong here. Could anyone confirm this? THanks.

Best Answer

The added terms, $-9x^3+2x^4$, will come from $c_3$ and $c_4$, in particular $a_1b_2+a_2b_1$ for $c_3$ and $a_2b_2$ for $c_4$. You have truncated the $c$ sum too early to see them.

Related Question