[Math] Show that $\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}k^2x^k= \frac{x(1+x)}{(1-x)^3}$ for $0 < |x| < 1$

algorithmssummation

Show that $$\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}k^2x^k= \frac{x(1+x)}{(1-x)^3}$$ for $0 < |x| < 1$.

(This is appendix question A.1-3 from Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen)

Best Answer

Hint: $$\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}k^2x^k= x\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}k^2x^{k-1}= x\frac{d}{dx}\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}kx^k$$

Can you follow on from this?

Edit: some more detail:

The idea with a question like this is to transform the question into something we already know. In this case, the sum looks remarkably similar to $$\sum_{k=0}^\infty x^k = \frac{1}{1-x} \text{ for } 0<x<1$$

Can you see a way to transform (perhaps by differentiating) the original sum into the simpler one above?

Continuation (if you get stuck):

$$x\frac{d}{dx}\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}kx^k = x\frac{d}{dx}\left( x\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}kx^{k-1}\right)= x\frac{d}{dx}\left( x\frac{d}{dx}\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}x^k\right)= x\frac{d}{dx}\left( x\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{1}{1-x}\right)\right)$$