sum and maxima



On Sun, 2 Nov 2003, Gosse Michel wrote:

> Hello
> 
> It seems that maxima have some problems to calculate sums that maple do. 
> For instance :
> ev(sum(binomial(n,k),k,1,n),simpsum); 

My maxima (5.9.0rc3) returns

(C5) ev(sum(binomial(n,k),k,1,n),simpsum);

(D5) 2^n-1

> return nothing. Maple return n*2^n/2.

I suppose there is a typo somewhere?


> Is it possible to help maxima to do this calculation ?

In general, you might want to get Zeilbergers algorithm for maxima from:
http://www.risc.uni-linz.ac.at/research/combinat/risc/software/Zeilberger/

Martin