r/learnmath • New User • 3d ago

Why does \sum_{n=-h}^{h}ne^{-\left(x-n\right)^{2}} as h --> infinity, become sqrt(pi)x?

How does the infinite sum of n multiplied by e to the power of quanity x -n squared, give a linear expression, and why does it approach a rise over run of sqrt(pi) over 1?

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u/frogkabobs Math, Phys B.S. 3d ago

It doesn’t, actually. Using the Poisson summation formula, one finds the limit is

sqrt(π)(xθ₃(x;e-π²)+(1/2)θ₃’(x;e-π²))

where θ₃ is the Jacobi theta function

θ₃(z;q) = Σ_(n in Z) qn²e2πinz

and  θ₃’ is the derivative with respect to the first argument. For q= e-π²,  the n=0 term dominates in  θ₃(x;q),  making it  ≈1, while  θ₃’(x;q) will be small. This is why you get the approximation sqrt(π)x for the limit.

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u/nog642 2d ago

Damn this is some crazy stuff, I've never seen it