TITLE: New Idea to prove $1+2x+3x^2+\cdots=(1-x)^{-2}$
QUESTION [26 upvotes]: Given $|x|<1 $ prove that $\\1+2x+3x^2+4x^3+5x^4+...=\frac{1}{(1-x)^2}$.

1st Proof: Let $s$ be defined as
$$
s=1+2x+3x^2+4x^3+5x^4+\cdots
$$
Then we have
$$
\begin{align}
xs&=x+2x^2+3x^3+4x^4+5x^5+\cdots\\
s-xs&=1+(2x-x)+(3x^2-2x^2)+\cdots\\
s-xs&=1+x+x^2+x^3+\cdots\\
s-xs&=\frac{1}{1-x}\\
s(1-x)&=\frac{1}{1-x}\\
s&= \frac{1}{(1-x)^2}
\end{align}
$$
2nd proof:
$$
\begin{align}
s&=1+2x+3x^2+4x^3+5x^4+\cdots\\
&=\left(1+x+x^2+x^3+\cdots\right)'\\
&=\left(\frac{1}{1-x}\right)'\\
&=\frac{0-(-1)}{(1-x)^2}\\
&=\frac{1}{(1-x)^2}
\end{align}
$$
3rd Proof:
$$
\begin{align}
s=&1+2x+3x^2+4x^3+5x^4+\cdots\\
=&1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4+x^5+\cdots\\
&+0+x+x^2+x^3+x^4+x^5+\cdots\\
&+0+0+x^2+x^3+x^4+x^5+\cdots\\
&+0+0+0+x^3+x^4+x^5+\cdots\\
&+\cdots
\end{align}
$$
$$
\begin{align}
s&=\frac{1}{1-x}+\frac{x}{1-x}+\frac{x^2}{1-x}+\frac{x^3}{1-x}+\cdots\\
&=\frac{1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4+x^5+...}{1-x}\\
&=\frac{\frac{1}{1-x}}{1-x}\\
&=\frac{1}{(1-x)^2}
\end{align}
$$
These are my three proofs to date. I'm looking for more ways to prove the statement.

REPLY [2 votes]: Consider $$(1+x+x^2+x^3+\cdots)(1+x+^2+x^3+\cdots)$$ Coefficient of $x^k$ in this expansion is just $k+1.$ Because $$1.x^k+x.x^{k-1}+x^2.x^{k-2}+\cdots+x^k.1=(k+1)x^k.$$ Therefore $$(1+x+x^2+x^3+\cdots)^2=1+2x+3x^2+4x^3+\cdots.$$ 
Now evaluate (you can use the same procedure) $$(1-2x+x^2)(1+2x+3x^2+4x^3+\cdots)=?$$