1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + ⋯

The series 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + ⋯

After smoothing

Asymptotic behavior of the smoothing. The y-intercept of the line is −1/2.^[1]

In mathematics, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + · · ·, also written $\sum_{n=1}^{\infin} n^0$, $\sum_{n=1}^{\infin} 1^n$, or simply $\sum_{n=1}^{\infin} 1$, is a divergent series, meaning that its sequence of partial sums do not converge to a limit in the real numbers. The sequence 1ⁿ can be thought of as a geometric series with the common ratio 1. Unlike other geometric series with rational ratio (except −1), it neither converges in real numbers nor in p-adic numbers for some p. In the context of the extended real number line

$\sum_{n=1}^{\infin} 1 = +\infty \, ,$

since its sequence of partial sums increases monotonically without bound.

Where the sum of n⁰ occurs in physical applications, it may sometimes be interpreted by zeta function regularization, as the value at s = 0 of the Riemann zeta function

$\zeta(s)=\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{1}{n^s}=\frac{1}{1-2^{1-s}}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{n+1}}{n^s}\,,$

The two formulas given above are not valid at zero however, so one might try the analytic continuation of the Riemann zeta function,

$\zeta(s) = 2^s\pi^{s-1}\ \sin\left(\frac{\pi s}{2}\right)\ \Gamma(1-s)\ \zeta(1-s) \!,$

Using this one gets (given that $\Gamma(1) = 1$),

$\zeta(0) = \frac{1}{\pi} \lim_{s \rightarrow 0} \ \sin\left(\frac{\pi s}{2}\right)\ \zeta(1-s) = \frac{1}{\pi} \lim_{s \rightarrow 0} \ \left( \frac{\pi s}{2} - \frac{\pi^3 s^3}{48} + ... \right)\ \left( -\frac{1}{s} + ... \right) = -\frac{1}{2} \!$

where the power series expansion for ζ(s) about s = 1 follows because ζ(s) has a simple pole of residue one there. In this sense 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + · · · = ζ(0) = −¹⁄₂.

Emilio Elizalde presents an anecdote on attitudes toward the series:

In a short period of less than a year, two distinguished physicists, A. Slavnov and F. Yndurain, gave seminars in Barcelona, about different subjects. It was remarkable that, in both presentations, at some point the speaker addressed the audience with these words: 'As everybody knows, 1 + 1 + 1 + · · · = −¹⁄₂'. Implying maybe: If you do not know this, it is no use to continue listening.^[2]

See also

• 1 − 1 + 2 − 6 + 24 − 120 + · · ·
• Harmonic series

Notes

1. Tao, Terence (April 10, 2010), The Euler-Maclaurin formula, Bernoulli numbers, the zeta function, and real-variable analytic continuation, retrieved January 30, 2014
2. Elizalde, Emilio (2004). "Cosmology: Techniques and Applications". Proceedings of the II International Conference on Fundamental Interactions. arXiv:gr-qc/0409076.

External links

• (sequence A000027 in OEIS)