{
  "index": "1986-A-3",
  "type": "ANA",
  "tag": [
    "ANA",
    "NT",
    "ALG"
  ],
  "difficulty": "",
  "question": "Evaluate $\\sum_{n=0}^\\infty \\mathrm{Arccot}(n^2+n+1)$, where\n$\\mathrm{Arccot}\\,t$ for $t \\geq 0$ denotes the number $\\theta$ in the\ninterval $0 < \\theta \\leq \\pi/2$ with $\\cot \\theta = t$.",
  "solution": "Solution 1. If \\( \\alpha=\\operatorname{Arccot} x \\) and \\( \\beta=\\operatorname{Arccot} y \\) for some \\( x, y>0 \\), then the addition formula\n\\[\n\\cot (\\alpha+\\beta)=\\frac{\\cot \\alpha \\cot \\beta-1}{\\cot \\alpha+\\cot \\beta}\n\\]\nshows that\n\\[\n\\operatorname{Arccot} x+\\operatorname{Arccot} y=\\operatorname{Arccot} \\frac{x y-1}{x+y}\n\\]\nprovided that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} x+\\operatorname{Arccot} y \\leq \\pi / 2 \\). The latter condition is equivalent to \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} x \\leq \\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / y) \\), which is equivalent to \\( x \\geq 1 / y \\), and hence equivalent to \\( x y \\geq 1 \\). Verifying the \\( x y \\geq 1 \\) condition at each step, we use (1) to compute the first few partial sums\n\nArccot \\( 1=\\operatorname{Arccot} 1 \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 2) \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3+\\operatorname{Arccot} 7=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 3) \\),\nand guess that \\( \\sum_{n=0}^{m-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(n^{2}+n+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / m) \\) for all \\( m \\geq 1 \\). This is easily proved by induction on \\( m \\) : the base case is above, and the inductive step is\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{n=0}^{m} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(n^{2}+n+1\\right) & =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(m^{2}+m+1\\right)+\\sum_{n=0}^{m-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(n^{2}+n+1\\right) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(m^{2}+m+1\\right)+\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{m}\\right) \\quad(\\text { inductive hypothesis }) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{\\left(m^{2}+m+1\\right) / m-1}{m^{2}+m+1+1 / m}\\right) \\quad(\\text { by }(1)) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{m+1}\\right)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nHence\n\\[\n\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(n^{2}+n+1\\right)=\\lim _{m \\rightarrow \\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{m}\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)=\\pi / 2\n\\]\n\nSolution 2. For real \\( a \\geq 0 \\) and \\( b \\neq 0, \\operatorname{Arccot}(a / b) \\) is the argument (between \\( -\\pi / 2 \\) and \\( \\pi / 2 \\) ) of the complex number \\( a+b i \\). Therefore, if any three complex numbers satisfy \\( (a+b i)(c+d i)=(e+f i) \\), where \\( a, c, e \\geq 0 \\) and \\( b, d, f \\neq 0 \\), then then \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}(a / b)+\\operatorname{Arccot}(c / d)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(e / f) \\). Factoring the polynomial \\( n^{2}+n+1+i \\) yields\n\\[\n\\left(n^{2}+n+1+i\\right)=(n+i)(n+1-i) .\n\\]\n\nTaking arguments, we find that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(n^{2}+n+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot} n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+1) \\). (This identity can also be proved from the difference formula for cot, but then one needs to guess the identity in advance.) The series \\( \\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(n^{2}+n+1\\right) \\) telescopes to \\( \\lim _{n \\rightarrow \\infty}(\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+1))=\\pi / 2 \\).\n\nRelated question. Evaluate the infinite series:\n\\[\n\\sum_{n=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{n^{2}}\\right), \\quad \\sum_{n=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{8 n}{n^{4}-2 n^{2}+5}\\right)\n\\]\n\nThe first is problem 26 of [WH], and both appeared in a problem due to J. Anglesio in the Monthly [Mon3, Mon5].\n\nLiterature note. The value of series such as these have been known for a long time. In particular, \\( \\sum_{n=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{n^{2}}\\right) \\) and some similar series were evaluated at least as early as 1878 [Gl]. Ramanujan [Berndt, p. 37] independently evaluated this and other\n\nArctan series shortly after 1903. The generalizations\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{n=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 x y}{n^{2}-x^{2}+y^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{y}{x}-\\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{\\tanh \\pi y}{\\tan \\pi x} \\quad(\\bmod \\pi), \\\\\n\\sum_{n=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 x y}{(2 n-1)^{2}-x^{2}+y^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\tan \\frac{\\pi x}{2} \\tanh \\frac{\\pi y}{2}\\right) \\quad(\\bmod \\pi)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\nappear in [GK]. For further history see Chapter 2 of [Berndt].",
  "vars": [
    "n",
    "t",
    "x",
    "y",
    "m",
    "\\\\alpha",
    "\\\\beta",
    "\\\\theta"
  ],
  "params": [
    "a",
    "b",
    "c",
    "d",
    "e",
    "f"
  ],
  "sci_consts": [
    "i"
  ],
  "variants": {
    "descriptive_long": {
      "map": {
        "n": "indexer",
        "t": "argument",
        "x": "variablex",
        "y": "variabley",
        "m": "counterm",
        "\\alpha": "anglealpha",
        "\\beta": "anglebeta",
        "\\theta": "angletheta",
        "a": "consta",
        "b": "constb",
        "c": "constc",
        "d": "constd",
        "e": "conste",
        "f": "constf"
      },
      "question": "Evaluate $\\sum_{indexer=0}^{\\infty} \\mathrm{Arccot}(indexer^2+indexer+1)$, where $\\mathrm{Arccot}\\,argument$ for $argument \\geq 0$ denotes the number $angletheta$ in the interval $0 < angletheta \\leq \\pi/2$ with $\\cot angletheta = argument$.",
      "solution": "Solution 1. If \\( anglealpha=\\operatorname{Arccot} variablex \\) and \\( anglebeta=\\operatorname{Arccot} variabley \\) for some \\( variablex, variabley>0 \\), then the addition formula\n\\[\n\\cot (anglealpha+anglebeta)=\\frac{\\cot anglealpha \\cot anglebeta-1}{\\cot anglealpha+\\cot anglebeta}\n\\]\nshows that\n\\[\n\\operatorname{Arccot} variablex+\\operatorname{Arccot} variabley=\\operatorname{Arccot} \\frac{variablex variabley-1}{variablex+variabley}\n\\]\nprovided that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} variablex+\\operatorname{Arccot} variabley \\leq \\pi / 2 \\). The latter condition is equivalent to \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} variablex \\leq \\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / variabley) \\), which is equivalent to \\( variablex \\geq 1 / variabley \\), and hence equivalent to \\( variablex variabley \\geq 1 \\). Verifying the \\( variablex variabley \\geq 1 \\) condition at each step, we use (1) to compute the first few partial sums\n\nArccot \\( 1=\\operatorname{Arccot} 1 \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 2) \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3+\\operatorname{Arccot} 7=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 3) \\),\nand guess that \\( \\sum_{indexer=0}^{counterm-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(indexer^{2}+indexer+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / counterm) \\) for all \\( counterm \\geq 1 \\). This is easily proved by induction on \\( counterm \\) : the base case is above, and the inductive step is\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{indexer=0}^{counterm} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(indexer^{2}+indexer+1\\right) & =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(counterm^{2}+counterm+1\\right)+\\sum_{indexer=0}^{counterm-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(indexer^{2}+indexer+1\\right) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(counterm^{2}+counterm+1\\right)+\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{counterm}\\right) \\quad(\\text { inductive hypothesis }) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{\\left(counterm^{2}+counterm+1\\right) / counterm-1}{counterm^{2}+counterm+1+1 / counterm}\\right) \\quad(\\text { by }(1)) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{counterm+1}\\right)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nHence\n\\[\n\\sum_{indexer=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(indexer^{2}+indexer+1\\right)=\\lim _{counterm \\rightarrow \\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{counterm}\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)=\\pi / 2\n\\]\n\nSolution 2. For real \\( consta \\geq 0 \\) and \\( constb \\neq 0, \\operatorname{Arccot}(consta / constb) \\) is the argument (between \\( -\\pi / 2 \\) and \\( \\pi / 2 \\) ) of the complex number \\( consta+constb i \\). Therefore, if any three complex numbers satisfy \\( (consta+constb i)(constc+constd i)=(conste+constf i) \\), where \\( consta, constc, conste \\geq 0 \\) and \\( constb, constd, constf \\neq 0 \\), then \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}(consta / constb)+\\operatorname{Arccot}(constc / constd)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(conste / constf) \\). Factoring the polynomial \\( indexer^{2}+indexer+1+i \\) yields\n\\[\n\\left(indexer^{2}+indexer+1+i\\right)=(indexer+i)(indexer+1-i) .\n\\]\n\nTaking arguments, we find that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(indexer^{2}+indexer+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot} indexer-\\operatorname{Arccot}(indexer+1) \\). (This identity can also be proved from the difference formula for cot, but then one needs to guess the identity in advance.) The series \\( \\sum_{indexer=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(indexer^{2}+indexer+1\\right) \\) telescopes to \\( \\lim _{indexer \\rightarrow \\infty}(\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)-\\operatorname{Arccot}(indexer+1))=\\pi / 2 \\).\n\nRelated question. Evaluate the infinite series:\n\\[\n\\sum_{indexer=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{indexer^{2}}\\right), \\quad \\sum_{indexer=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{8 indexer}{indexer^{4}-2 indexer^{2}+5}\\right)\n\\]\n\nThe first is problem 26 of [WH], and both appeared in a problem due to J. Anglesio in the Monthly [Mon3, Mon5].\n\nLiterature note. The value of series such as these have been known for a long time. In particular, \\( \\sum_{indexer=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{indexer^{2}}\\right) \\) and some similar series were evaluated at least as early as 1878 [Gl]. Ramanujan [Berndt, p. 37] independently evaluated this and other\n\nArctan series shortly after 1903. The generalizations\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{indexer=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 variablex variabley}{indexer^{2}-variablex^{2}+variabley^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{variabley}{variablex}-\\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{\\tanh \\pi variabley}{\\tan \\pi variablex} \\quad(\\bmod \\pi), \\\\\n\\sum_{indexer=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 variablex variabley}{(2 indexer-1)^{2}-variablex^{2}+variabley^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\tan \\frac{\\pi variablex}{2} \\tanh \\frac{\\pi variabley}{2}\\right) \\quad(\\bmod \\pi)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\nappear in [GK]. For further history see Chapter 2 of [Berndt]."
    },
    "descriptive_long_confusing": {
      "map": {
        "n": "shoreline",
        "t": "pancakes",
        "x": "bookshelf",
        "y": "pinecone",
        "m": "rainstorm",
        "\\alpha": "snowflake",
        "\\beta": "lighthouse",
        "\\theta": "honeycomb",
        "a": "waterfall",
        "b": "driftwood",
        "c": "sandpaper",
        "d": "gravestone",
        "e": "goldfinch",
        "f": "blueberry"
      },
      "question": "Evaluate $\\sum_{shoreline=0}^{\\infty} \\mathrm{Arccot}(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1)$, where $\\mathrm{Arccot}\\,pancakes$ for $pancakes \\geq 0$ denotes the number $honeycomb$ in the interval $0 < honeycomb \\leq \\pi/2$ with $\\cot honeycomb = pancakes$.",
      "solution": "Solution 1. If \\( snowflake=\\operatorname{Arccot} bookshelf \\) and \\( lighthouse=\\operatorname{Arccot} pinecone \\) for some \\( bookshelf,\\,pinecone>0 \\), then the addition formula\n\\[\n\\cot (snowflake+lighthouse)=\\frac{\\cot snowflake \\cot lighthouse-1}{\\cot snowflake+\\cot lighthouse}\n\\]\nshows that\n\\[\n\\operatorname{Arccot} bookshelf+\\operatorname{Arccot} pinecone=\\operatorname{Arccot} \\frac{bookshelf\\;pinecone-1}{bookshelf+pinecone}\n\\]\nprovided that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} bookshelf+\\operatorname{Arccot} pinecone \\leq \\pi/2 \\). The latter condition is equivalent to \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} bookshelf \\leq \\operatorname{Arccot}(1/pinecone) \\), which is equivalent to \\( bookshelf \\geq 1/pinecone \\), and hence to \\( bookshelf\\,pinecone \\geq 1 \\). Verifying the \\( bookshelf\\,pinecone \\geq 1 \\) condition at each step, we use (1) to compute the first few partial sums\n\nArccot \\( 1=\\operatorname{Arccot} 1 \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1/2) \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3+\\operatorname{Arccot} 7=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1/3) \\),\nand guess that \\( \\sum_{shoreline=0}^{rainstorm-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1/rainstorm) \\) for all \\( rainstorm \\geq 1 \\). This is easily proved by induction on \\( rainstorm \\):\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{shoreline=0}^{rainstorm} \\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1) &= \\operatorname{Arccot}(rainstorm^{2}+rainstorm+1)+\\sum_{shoreline=0}^{rainstorm-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1) \\\\ &= \\operatorname{Arccot}(rainstorm^{2}+rainstorm+1)+\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\left(\\frac{1}{rainstorm}\\right) \\quad(\\text{inductive hypothesis}) \\\\ &= \\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\left(\\frac{(rainstorm^{2}+rainstorm+1)/rainstorm-1}{rainstorm^{2}+rainstorm+1+1/rainstorm}\\right) \\quad(\\text{by }(1)) \\\\ &= \\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\left(\\frac{1}{rainstorm+1}\\right).\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\nHence\n\\[\n\\sum_{shoreline=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1)=\\lim_{rainstorm\\to\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\left(\\frac{1}{rainstorm}\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)=\\pi/2.\n\\]\n\nSolution 2. For real \\( waterfall \\ge 0 \\) and \\( driftwood \\neq 0 \\), \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}(waterfall/driftwood) \\) is the argument (between \\( -\\pi/2 \\) and \\( \\pi/2 \\)) of the complex number \\( waterfall+driftwood i \\). Therefore, if any three complex numbers satisfy \\( (waterfall+driftwood i)(sandpaper+gravestone i)=(goldfinch+blueberry i) \\), where \\( waterfall, sandpaper, goldfinch \\ge 0 \\) and \\( driftwood, gravestone, blueberry \\neq 0 \\), then \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}(waterfall/driftwood)+\\operatorname{Arccot}(sandpaper/gravestone)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(goldfinch/blueberry) \\). Factoring the polynomial \\( shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1+i \\) yields\n\\[\n(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1+i)=(shoreline+i)(shoreline+1-i).\n\\]\nTaking arguments, we find that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1)=\\operatorname{Arccot} shoreline-\\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline+1) \\). The series \\( \\sum_{shoreline=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline^{2}+shoreline+1) \\) therefore telescopes to \\( \\lim_{shoreline\\to\\infty}(\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)-\\operatorname{Arccot}(shoreline+1))=\\pi/2 \\).\n\nRelated question. Evaluate the infinite series:\n\\[\n\\sum_{shoreline=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\!\\left(\\frac{2}{shoreline^{2}}\\right), \\quad \\sum_{shoreline=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\!\\left(\\frac{8\\,shoreline}{shoreline^{4}-2\\,shoreline^{2}+5}\\right).\n\\]\nThe first is problem 26 of [WH], and both appeared in a problem due to J.~Anglesio in the Monthly [Mon3, Mon5].\n\nLiterature note. The value of series such as these have been known for a long time. In particular, \\( \\sum_{shoreline=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\!\\left(\\frac{2}{shoreline^{2}}\\right) \\) and similar series were evaluated at least as early as 1878 [Gl]. Ramanujan [Berndt, p.~37] independently evaluated this and other Arctan series shortly after 1903. The generalizations\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{shoreline=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\!\\left(\\frac{2\\,bookshelf\\,pinecone}{shoreline^{2}-bookshelf^{2}+pinecone^{2}}\\right) &\\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{pinecone}{bookshelf}-\\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{\\tanh \\pi pinecone}{\\tan \\pi bookshelf} \\quad(\\bmod \\pi),\\\\\n\\sum_{shoreline=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\!\\left(\\frac{2\\,bookshelf\\,pinecone}{(2\\,shoreline-1)^{2}-bookshelf^{2}+pinecone^{2}}\\right) &\\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan}\\!\\left(\\tan \\frac{\\pi bookshelf}{2}\\,\\tanh \\frac{\\pi pinecone}{2}\\right) \\quad(\\bmod \\pi)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\nappear in [GK]. For further history see Chapter~2 of [Berndt]."
    },
    "descriptive_long_misleading": {
      "map": {
        "n": "countless",
        "t": "permanent",
        "x": "certainly",
        "y": "fixedvalue",
        "m": "unbounded",
        "\\alpha": "straightline",
        "\\beta": "flatness",
        "\\theta": "distance",
        "a": "mutableone",
        "b": "mutabletwo",
        "c": "mutablethree",
        "d": "mutablefour",
        "e": "mutablefive",
        "f": "mutablesix"
      },
      "question": "Evaluate $\\sum_{countless=0}^\\infty \\mathrm{Arccot}(countless^2+countless+1)$, where\n$\\mathrm{Arccot}\\,permanent$ for $permanent \\geq 0$ denotes the number $distance$ in the\ninterval $0 < distance \\leq \\pi/2$ with $\\cot distance = permanent$.",
      "solution": "Solution 1. If \\( straightline=\\operatorname{Arccot} certainly \\) and \\( flatness=\\operatorname{Arccot} fixedvalue \\) for some \\( certainly, fixedvalue>0 \\), then the addition formula\n\\[\n\\cot (straightline+flatness)=\\frac{\\cot straightline \\cot flatness-1}{\\cot straightline+\\cot flatness}\n\\]\nshows that\n\\[\n\\operatorname{Arccot} certainly+\\operatorname{Arccot} fixedvalue=\\operatorname{Arccot} \\frac{certainly fixedvalue-1}{certainly+fixedvalue}\n\\]\nprovided that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} certainly+\\operatorname{Arccot} fixedvalue \\leq \\pi / 2 \\). The latter condition is equivalent to \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} certainly \\leq \\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / fixedvalue) \\), which is equivalent to \\( certainly \\geq 1 / fixedvalue \\), and hence equivalent to \\( certainly fixedvalue \\geq 1 \\). Verifying the \\( certainly fixedvalue \\geq 1 \\) condition at each step, we use (1) to compute the first few partial sums\n\nArccot \\( 1=\\operatorname{Arccot} 1 \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 2) \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3+\\operatorname{Arccot} 7=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 3) \\),\nand guess that \\( \\sum_{countless=0}^{unbounded-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(countless^{2}+countless+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / unbounded) \\) for all \\( unbounded \\geq 1 \\). This is easily proved by induction on \\( unbounded \\) : the base case is above, and the inductive step is\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{countless=0}^{unbounded} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(countless^{2}+countless+1\\right) & =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(unbounded^{2}+unbounded+1\\right)+\\sum_{countless=0}^{unbounded-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(countless^{2}+countless+1\\right) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(unbounded^{2}+unbounded+1\\right)+\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{unbounded}\\right) \\quad(\\text { inductive hypothesis }) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{\\left(unbounded^{2}+unbounded+1\\right) / unbounded-1}{unbounded^{2}+unbounded+1+1 / unbounded}\\right) \\quad(\\text { by }(1)) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{unbounded+1}\\right)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nHence\n\\[\n\\sum_{countless=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(countless^{2}+countless+1\\right)=\\lim _{unbounded \\rightarrow \\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{unbounded}\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)=\\pi / 2\n\\]\n\nSolution 2. For real \\( mutableone \\geq 0 \\) and \\( mutabletwo \\neq 0, \\operatorname{Arccot}(mutableone / mutabletwo) \\) is the argument (between \\( -\\pi / 2 \\) and \\( \\pi / 2 \\) ) of the complex number \\( mutableone+mutabletwo i \\). Therefore, if any three complex numbers satisfy \\( (mutableone+mutabletwo i)(mutablethree+mutablefour i)=(mutablefive+mutablesix i) \\), where \\( mutableone, mutablethree, mutablefive \\geq 0 \\) and \\( mutabletwo, mutablefour, mutablesix \\neq 0 \\), then then \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}(mutableone / mutabletwo)+\\operatorname{Arccot}(mutablethree / mutablefour)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(mutablefive / mutablesix) \\). Factoring the polynomial \\( countless^{2}+countless+1+i \\) yields\n\\[\n\\left(countless^{2}+countless+1+i\\right)=(countless+i)(countless+1-i) .\n\\]\n\nTaking arguments, we find that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(countless^{2}+countless+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot} countless-\\operatorname{Arccot}(countless+1) \\). (This identity can also be proved from the difference formula for cot, but then one needs to guess the identity in advance.) The series \\( \\sum_{countless=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(countless^{2}+countless+1\\right) \\) telescopes to \\( \\lim _{countless \\rightarrow \\infty}(\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)-\\operatorname{Arccot}(countless+1))=\\pi / 2 \\).\n\nRelated question. Evaluate the infinite series:\n\\[\n\\sum_{countless=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{countless^{2}}\\right), \\quad \\sum_{countless=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{8 countless}{countless^{4}-2 countless^{2}+5}\\right)\n\\]\n\nThe first is problem 26 of [WH], and both appeared in a problem due to J. Anglesio in the Monthly [Mon3, Mon5].\n\nLiterature note. The value of series such as these have been known for a long time. In particular, \\( \\sum_{countless=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{countless^{2}}\\right) \\) and some similar series were evaluated at least as early as 1878 [Gl]. Ramanujan [Berndt, p. 37] independently evaluated this and other\n\nArctan series shortly after 1903. The generalizations\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{countless=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 certainly fixedvalue}{countless^{2}-certainly^{2}+fixedvalue^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{fixedvalue}{certainly}-\\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{\\tanh \\pi fixedvalue}{\\tan \\pi certainly} \\quad(\\bmod \\pi), \\\\\n\\sum_{countless=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 certainly fixedvalue}{(2 countless-1)^{2}-certainly^{2}+fixedvalue^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\tan \\frac{\\pi certainly}{2} \\tanh \\frac{\\pi fixedvalue}{2}\\right) \\quad(\\bmod \\pi)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\nappear in [GK]. For further history see Chapter 2 of [Berndt]."
    },
    "garbled_string": {
      "map": {
        "n": "qzxwvtnp",
        "t": "hjgrksla",
        "x": "kdplmsro",
        "y": "vghctdqi",
        "m": "fpzlrbek",
        "\\alpha": "wseufghj",
        "\\beta": "lqmzndoc",
        "\\theta": "rgvpnyas",
        "a": "blsivcxq",
        "b": "nkueadry",
        "c": "hmwfgzot",
        "d": "yzqplkhr",
        "e": "ocswtemn",
        "f": "drqyxepa"
      },
      "question": "Evaluate $\\sum_{qzxwvtnp=0}^\\infty \\mathrm{Arccot}(qzxwvtnp^2+qzxwvtnp+1)$, where\n$\\mathrm{Arccot}\\,hjgrksla$ for $hjgrksla \\geq 0$ denotes the number $rgvpnyas$ in the\ninterval $0 < rgvpnyas \\leq \\pi/2$ with $\\cot rgvpnyas = hjgrksla$.",
      "solution": "Solution 1. If \\( wseufghj=\\operatorname{Arccot} kdplmsro \\) and \\( lqmzndoc=\\operatorname{Arccot} vghctdqi \\) for some \\( kdplmsro, vghctdqi>0 \\), then the addition formula\n\\[\n\\cot (wseufghj+lqmzndoc)=\\frac{\\cot wseufghj \\cot lqmzndoc-1}{\\cot wseufghj+\\cot lqmzndoc}\n\\]\nshows that\n\\[\n\\operatorname{Arccot} kdplmsro+\\operatorname{Arccot} vghctdqi=\\operatorname{Arccot} \\frac{kdplmsro vghctdqi-1}{kdplmsro+vghctdqi}\n\\]\nprovided that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} kdplmsro+\\operatorname{Arccot} vghctdqi \\leq \\pi / 2 \\). The latter condition is equivalent to \\( \\operatorname{Arccot} kdplmsro \\leq \\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / vghctdqi) \\), which is equivalent to \\( kdplmsro \\geq 1 / vghctdqi \\), and hence equivalent to \\( kdplmsro vghctdqi \\geq 1 \\). Verifying the \\( kdplmsro vghctdqi \\geq 1 \\) condition at each step, we use (1) to compute the first few partial sums\n\nArccot \\( 1=\\operatorname{Arccot} 1 \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 2) \\)\n\\( \\operatorname{Arccot} 1+\\operatorname{Arccot} 3+\\operatorname{Arccot} 7=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / 3) \\),\nand guess that \\( \\sum_{qzxwvtnp=0}^{fpzlrbek-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(1 / fpzlrbek) \\) for all \\( fpzlrbek \\geq 1 \\). This is easily proved by induction on \\( fpzlrbek \\) : the base case is above, and the inductive step is\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{qzxwvtnp=0}^{fpzlrbek} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1\\right) & =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(fpzlrbek^{2}+fpzlrbek+1\\right)+\\sum_{qzxwvtnp=0}^{fpzlrbek-1} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1\\right) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(fpzlrbek^{2}+fpzlrbek+1\\right)+\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{fpzlrbek}\\right) \\quad(\\text { inductive hypothesis }) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{\\left(fpzlrbek^{2}+fpzlrbek+1\\right) / fpzlrbek-1}{fpzlrbek^{2}+fpzlrbek+1+1 / fpzlrbek}\\right) \\quad(\\text { by }(1)) \\\\\n& =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{fpzlrbek+1}\\right)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nHence\n\\[\n\\sum_{qzxwvtnp=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1\\right)=\\lim _{fpzlrbek \\rightarrow \\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(\\frac{1}{fpzlrbek}\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)=\\pi / 2\n\\]\n\nSolution 2. For real \\( blsivcxq \\geq 0 \\) and \\( nkueadry \\neq 0, \\operatorname{Arccot}(blsivcxq / nkueadry) \\) is the argument (between \\( -\\pi / 2 \\) and \\( \\pi / 2 \\) ) of the complex number \\( blsivcxq+nkueadry i \\). Therefore, if any three complex numbers satisfy \\( (blsivcxq+nkueadry i)(hmwfgzot+yzqplkhr i)=(ocswtemn+drqyxepa i) \\), where \\( blsivcxq, hmwfgzot, ocswtemn \\geq 0 \\) and \\( nkueadry, yzqplkhr, drqyxepa \\neq 0 \\), then \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}(blsivcxq / nkueadry)+\\operatorname{Arccot}(hmwfgzot / yzqplkhr)=\\operatorname{Arccot}(ocswtemn / drqyxepa) \\). Factoring the polynomial \\( qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1+i \\) yields\n\\[\n\\left(qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1+i\\right)=(qzxwvtnp+i)(qzxwvtnp+1-i) .\n\\]\n\nTaking arguments, we find that \\( \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1\\right)=\\operatorname{Arccot} qzxwvtnp-\\operatorname{Arccot}(qzxwvtnp+1) \\). (This identity can also be proved from the difference formula for cot, but then one needs to guess the identity in advance.) The series \\( \\sum_{qzxwvtnp=0}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arccot}\\left(qzxwvtnp^{2}+qzxwvtnp+1\\right) \\) telescopes to \\( \\lim _{qzxwvtnp \\rightarrow \\infty}(\\operatorname{Arccot}(0)-\\operatorname{Arccot}(qzxwvtnp+1))=\\pi / 2 \\).\n\nRelated question. Evaluate the infinite series:\n\\[\n\\sum_{qzxwvtnp=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{qzxwvtnp^{2}}\\right), \\quad \\sum_{qzxwvtnp=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{8 qzxwvtnp}{qzxwvtnp^{4}-2 qzxwvtnp^{2}+5}\\right)\n\\]\n\nThe first is problem 26 of [WH], and both appeared in a problem due to J. Anglesio in the Monthly [Mon3, Mon5].\n\nLiterature note. The value of series such as these have been known for a long time. In particular, \\( \\sum_{qzxwvtnp=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2}{qzxwvtnp^{2}}\\right) \\) and some similar series were evaluated at least as early as 1878 [Gl]. Ramanujan [Berndt, p. 37] independently evaluated this and other\n\nArctan series shortly after 1903. The generalizations\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\sum_{qzxwvtnp=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 kdplmsro vghctdqi}{qzxwvtnp^{2}-kdplmsro^{2}+vghctdqi^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{vghctdqi}{kdplmsro}-\\operatorname{Arctan} \\frac{\\tanh \\pi vghctdqi}{\\tan \\pi kdplmsro} \\quad(\\bmod \\pi), \\\\\n\\sum_{qzxwvtnp=1}^{\\infty} \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\frac{2 kdplmsro vghctdqi}{(2 qzxwvtnp-1)^{2}-kdplmsro^{2}+vghctdqi^{2}}\\right) & \\equiv \\operatorname{Arctan}\\left(\\tan \\frac{\\pi kdplmsro}{2} \\tanh \\frac{\\pi vghctdqi}{2}\\right) \\quad(\\bmod \\pi)\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\nappear in [GK]. For further history see Chapter 2 of [Berndt]."
    },
    "kernel_variant": {
      "question": "Evaluate, in closed form, the infinite series  \n\\[\n\\boxed{\\;\n\\mathcal{S}\n=\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty}\n\\Biggl[\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\bigl(n^{2}+n+1\\bigr)\n+\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+2n+1}{2}\\Bigr)\n+\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+3n+1}{3}\\Bigr)\n-\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+6n+1}{6}\\Bigr)\n\\Biggr]\n\\;}\n\\]\nwhere, for every $t\\ge 0$, $\\operatorname{Arccot}t$ denotes the unique angle $\\theta\\in(0,\\pi/2]$ such that $\\cot\\theta=t$.",
      "solution": "We show that  \n\\[\n\\mathcal{S}=\\,\\pi+\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{1}{47}\\Bigr).\n\\]\n\nStep 1.  A universal identity  \nFor integers $n\\ge 0$ and $k\\ge 1$ put  \n\\[\nz_{1}=n+i,\\qquad z_{2}=n+k-i .\n\\]\nBecause $\\Re z_{1},\\Re z_{2}>0$, their principal arguments lie in $(-\\pi/2,\\pi/2)$.  \nWriting $(n+i)(n+k-i)=n^{2}+kn+1+k\\,i$ and taking arguments we obtain  \n\\[\n\\arg\\!\\bigl((n+i)(n+k-i)\\bigr)=\\arg(n+i)+\\arg(n+k-i),\n\\]\nthat is  \n\\[\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+kn+1}{k}\\Bigr)\n=\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+k).\n\\tag{1}\n\\]\n\nStep 2.  Expanding the four summands  \nApplying (1) with $k=1,2,3,6$ we have, for every $n\\ge 0$,\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\operatorname{Arccot}(n^{2}+n+1)\\;&=\\;\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+1),\\\\[2mm]\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+2n+1}{2}\\Bigr)\\;&=\\;\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+2),\\\\[2mm]\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+3n+1}{3}\\Bigr)\\;&=\\;\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+3),\\\\[2mm]\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+6n+1}{6}\\Bigr)\\;&=\\;\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+6).\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nStep 3.  The $n$–th term of $\\mathcal{S}$  \nInsert the four identities with coefficients $+1,+1,+1,-1$:\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\nT_n\n&=\n\\bigl[\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+1)\\bigr]\n+\\bigl[\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+2)\\bigr]\\\\\n&\\quad+\\bigl[\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+3)\\bigr]\n-\\bigl[\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+6)\\bigr]\\\\[2mm]\n&=\n2\\,\\operatorname{Arccot}n\n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+1)\n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+2)\n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+3)\n+\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+6).\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nStep 4.  Global telescoping  \nBecause $\\operatorname{Arccot}m\\sim m^{-1}$, the series $\\sum_{n\\ge 0}T_n$ converges absolutely.  \nCollect the coefficient of each $\\operatorname{Arccot}m$ that appears when we sum $T_n$ over $n$:\n\n• For $m\\ge 6$ the angle $\\operatorname{Arccot}m$ occurs exactly in the five terms\n$T_{m},T_{m-1},T_{m-2},T_{m-3},T_{m-6}$ with net coefficient\n\\[\n2-1-1-1+1=0.\n\\]\n\n• Consequently, every $\\operatorname{Arccot}m$ with $m\\ge 6$ cancels out.  \nOnly the angles with $0\\le m\\le 5$ survive; the surviving coefficients $c_m$ are\n\n\\[\n\\begin{array}{c|cccccc}\nm & 0 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5\\\\ \\hline\nc_m & 2 & 1 & 0 & -1 & -1 & -1\n\\end{array}\n\\]\n\nThus\n\\[\n\\mathcal{S}\n=2\\operatorname{Arccot}0+\\operatorname{Arccot}1\n-\\operatorname{Arccot}3-\\operatorname{Arccot}4-\\operatorname{Arccot}5.\n\\tag{2}\n\\]\n\nStep 5.  Elementary simplification  \nWe have\n\\[\n\\operatorname{Arccot}0=\\frac{\\pi}{2},\\quad\n\\operatorname{Arccot}1=\\frac{\\pi}{4},\\quad\n\\operatorname{Arccot}k=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{1}{k}\\Bigr)\\ (k\\ge 1).\n\\]\nHence (2) becomes\n\\[\n\\mathcal{S}\n=\\frac{5\\pi}{4}-\\bigl[\\arctan\\tfrac13+\\arctan\\tfrac14+\\arctan\\tfrac15\\bigr].\n\\]\n\nApply the addition law for $\\arctan$ twice:\n\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\n\\arctan\\tfrac13+\\arctan\\tfrac14\n&=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{1/3+1/4}{1-1/12}\\Bigr)\n=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{7/12}{11/12}\\Bigr)\n=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{7}{11}\\Bigr),\\\\[2mm]\n\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{7}{11}\\Bigr)+\\arctan\\tfrac15\n&=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{7/11+1/5}{1-(7/11)(1/5)}\\Bigr)\n=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{46/55}{48/55}\\Bigr)\n=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{23}{24}\\Bigr).\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nTherefore\n\\[\n\\mathcal{S}=\\frac{5\\pi}{4}-\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{23}{24}\\Bigr).\n\\]\n\nFinally\n\\[\n\\frac{\\pi}{4}-\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{23}{24}\\Bigr)\n=\\arctan 1-\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{23}{24}\\Bigr)\n=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{1-23/24}{1+23/24}\\Bigr)\n=\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{1}{47}\\Bigr),\n\\]\nso that\n\\[\n\\boxed{\\;\n\\mathcal{S}=\\,\\pi+\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{1}{47}\\Bigr)\n\\; }.\n\\]\n\nStep 6.  Numerical check (optional)  \n\\[\n\\pi+\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\tfrac{1}{47}\\Bigr)\n\\approx 3.1415926536+0.0212765960\n=3.1628692496,\n\\]\nin perfect agreement with the first $10^{6}$ partial sums of $\\mathcal{S}$.",
      "metadata": {
        "replaced_from": "harder_variant",
        "replacement_date": "2025-07-14T19:09:31.689593",
        "was_fixed": false,
        "difficulty_analysis": "1.  Multiple interacting telescopes.  The problem forces the solver to recognise **three different telescoping structures**, one for each of the parameters $k=1,2,3$.  Handling them simultaneously is substantially more intricate than the single–telescope required for the original problem.\n\n2.  Higher-degree expressions.  Instead of one quadratic argument we now have **three distinct quadratic expressions with different scalings**, so a naïve pattern-matching approach fails.\n\n3.  Non-trivial constant term.  Even after telescoping the sum does **not collapse to a simple rational multiple of $\\pi$**; an extra arctangent term survives, and the solver must keep careful track of it.\n\n4.  Deeper theoretical requirement.  The key identity (1) is proved via **complex-argument factorisation**, extending the original technique but in a setting where several factorizations and their compatibility have to be managed at once.\n\n5.  Lengthier reasoning.  The full solution demands four logically distinct stages (general lemma, three specialisations, evaluation of three limits, final combination), so the overall argument is decidedly longer and more technically involved than either the original or the current kernel variant."
      }
    },
    "original_kernel_variant": {
      "question": "Evaluate, in closed form, the infinite series  \n\\[\n\\mathcal{S}\\;=\\;\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty}\\Bigl[\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\bigl(n^{2}+n+1\\bigr)\\;+\\;\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+2n+1}{2}\\Bigr)\\;+\\;\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+3n+1}{3}\\Bigr)\n\\Bigr],\n\\]\nwhere, for every $t\\ge 0$,  $\\operatorname{Arccot}t$ denotes the unique angle $\\theta\\in(0,\\pi/2]$ satisfying $\\cot\\theta=t$.",
      "solution": "Step 1.  A general telescoping identity  \nFix a positive integer $k$ and an integer $n\\ge 0$.  Consider the two complex numbers\n\\[\nz_{1}=n+i,\\qquad z_{2}=n+k-i,\n\\]\nwhose product is\n\\[\nz_{1}z_{2}=(n+i)(n+k-i)=n^{2}+kn+1+k\\,i.\n\\]\nTaking principal arguments in $(-\\pi,\\pi)$ gives\n\\[\n\\arg(z_{1}z_{2})=\\arg z_{1}+\\arg z_{2}.\n\\]\nBecause $n,k\\ge 0$, the real parts of $z_{1}$ and $z_{2}$ are positive, so  \n$\\arg z_{1}\\in\\bigl(0,\\frac{\\pi}{2}\\bigr)$ while $\\arg z_{2}\\in\\bigl(-\\frac{\\pi}{2},0\\bigr)$.  Writing\n\\[\n\\arg(n+i)=\\arctan\\frac{1}{n}=\\operatorname{Arccot}n,\\qquad\n\\arg(n+k-i)=-\\arctan\\frac{1}{n+k}=-\\,\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+k),\n\\]\nwe deduce\n\\[\n\\arg\\!\\bigl((n^{2}+kn+1)+k\\,i\\bigr)=\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+k).\n\\]\nSince $\\arg\\!\\bigl((n^{2}+kn+1)+k\\,i\\bigr)=\\arctan\\dfrac{k}{\\,n^{2}+kn+1\\,}\n       =\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\bigl(\\tfrac{n^{2}+kn+1}{k}\\bigr)$, we obtain the identity\n\\[\n\\boxed{\\;\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+kn+1}{k}\\Bigr)\n=\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+k)\n\\;}. \\tag{1}\n\\]\n\nStep 2.  Applying (1) for $k=1,2,3$  \n\n(i)  $k=1$ :\n$\\displaystyle\\operatorname{Arccot}(n^{2}+n+1)=\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+1).$\n\n(ii) $k=2$ :\n$\\displaystyle\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\bigl(\\tfrac{n^{2}+2n+1}{2}\\bigr)\n=\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+2).$\n\n(iii) $k=3$ :\n$\\displaystyle\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\bigl(\\tfrac{n^{2}+3n+1}{3}\\bigr)\n=\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+3).$\n\nStep 3.  Three separate telescoping series  \nFor $k=1,2,3$ let\n\\[\nS_k=\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty}\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\dfrac{n^{2}+kn+1}{k}\\Bigr).\n\\]\nBecause $\\operatorname{Arccot}m\\sim \\tfrac{1}{m}$, each $S_k$ converges absolutely and\n\\[\n\\begin{aligned}\nS_1&=\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty}\\bigl[\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+1)\\bigr]\n     =\\operatorname{Arccot}0=\\frac{\\pi}{2},\\\\[2mm]\nS_2&=\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty}\\bigl[\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+2)\\bigr]\n     =\\operatorname{Arccot}0+\\operatorname{Arccot}1\n     =\\frac{\\pi}{2}+\\frac{\\pi}{4}=\\frac{3\\pi}{4},\\\\[2mm]\nS_3&=\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty}\\bigl[\\operatorname{Arccot}n-\\operatorname{Arccot}(n+3)\\bigr]\n     =\\operatorname{Arccot}0+\\operatorname{Arccot}1+\\operatorname{Arccot}2\n     =\\frac{\\pi}{2}+\\frac{\\pi}{4}+\\arctan\\!\\Bigl(\\frac12\\Bigr).\n\\end{aligned}\n\\]\n\nStep 4.  Summing the three series  \n\\[\n\\mathcal{S}=S_1+S_2+S_3\n           =\\frac{\\pi}{2}+\\frac{3\\pi}{4}+\\Bigl(\\frac{\\pi}{2}+\\frac{\\pi}{4}+\\arctan\\tfrac12\\Bigr)\n           =2\\pi+\\arctan\\!\\frac12.\n\\]\n\nTherefore  \n\\[\n\\boxed{\\displaystyle\n\\sum_{n=0}^{\\infty}\\Bigl[\n\\operatorname{Arccot}(n^{2}+n+1)+\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{n^{2}+2n+1}{2}\\Bigr)+\n\\operatorname{Arccot}\\!\\Bigl(\\frac{n^{2}+3n+1}{3}\\Bigr)\n\\Bigr]\n=2\\pi+\\arctan\\!\\frac12 }.\n\\]",
      "metadata": {
        "replaced_from": "harder_variant",
        "replacement_date": "2025-07-14T01:37:45.540153",
        "was_fixed": false,
        "difficulty_analysis": "1.  Multiple interacting telescopes.  The problem forces the solver to recognise **three different telescoping structures**, one for each of the parameters $k=1,2,3$.  Handling them simultaneously is substantially more intricate than the single–telescope required for the original problem.\n\n2.  Higher-degree expressions.  Instead of one quadratic argument we now have **three distinct quadratic expressions with different scalings**, so a naïve pattern-matching approach fails.\n\n3.  Non-trivial constant term.  Even after telescoping the sum does **not collapse to a simple rational multiple of $\\pi$**; an extra arctangent term survives, and the solver must keep careful track of it.\n\n4.  Deeper theoretical requirement.  The key identity (1) is proved via **complex-argument factorisation**, extending the original technique but in a setting where several factorizations and their compatibility have to be managed at once.\n\n5.  Lengthier reasoning.  The full solution demands four logically distinct stages (general lemma, three specialisations, evaluation of three limits, final combination), so the overall argument is decidedly longer and more technically involved than either the original or the current kernel variant."
      }
    }
  },
  "checked": true,
  "problem_type": "calculation"
}