TITLE: Evaluate the series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{2^{[\sqrt{n}]}+2^{-[\sqrt{n}]}}{2^n}$
QUESTION [12 upvotes]: How can I obtain the limit of the series

$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{2^{[\sqrt{n}]}+2^{-[\sqrt{n}]}}{2^n}$$

Where $[\ \ ]$ is Nearest Integer Function.

REPLY [13 votes]: For $(k-0.5)^2<k^2-k+1\le n\le k^2+k<(k+0.5)^2$ we have $[\sqrt{n}]=k$. Furthermore, $(k+1)^2-(k+1)+1=k^2+k+1$ and since $1^2-1+1=1$ we have $\bigcup_{k=1}^{\infty}\left[k^2-k+1;…;k^2+k\right]=\mathbb{N}$. Therefore, since the sum clearly converges, we have:
$$
\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{2^{[\sqrt{n}]}+2^{-[\sqrt{n}]}}{2^n}=\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left[\sum_{n=k^2-k+1}^{k^2+k} \frac{2^{[\sqrt{n}]}+2^{-[\sqrt{n}]}}{2^n}\right]=\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left[\sum_{n=k^2-k+1}^{k^2+k} \frac{2^{k}+2^{-k}}{2^n}\right]=\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left[(2^{k}+2^{-k})\sum_{n=k^2-k+1}^{k^2+k} \frac{1}{2^n}\right]=\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left[\left(2^{k}+2^{-k}\right)\left(2\cdot\left(1-2^{-(k^2+k+1)}\right)-2\cdot\left(1-2^{-(k^2-k+1)}\right)\right)\right]=2\cdot\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left[\left(2^{k}+2^{-k}\right)\left(-2^{-(k^2+k+1)}+2^{-(k^2-k+1)}\right)\right]=2\cdot\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\left[2^{-(k-1)^2}-2^{-(k+1)^2}\right]
$$
and the result follows by telescoping.