Some aspects of Euler's theory of series: Inexplicable functions and the Euler-Maclaurin summation formula (Q1277361)

Inexplicable functions are those that have neither a determinate expression nor an expression by means of an (algebraic) equation. In the 1730's Euler considered the general term and the partial sum of series as such functions, aiming at unique natural explicit functions valid for each value of the continuous variable. The harmonic series and the factorial were special cases. The Euler-Maclaurin summation formula appeared as a by-product. Euler returned to the subject in the 1750's, also in two chapters of his Differential Calculus of 1755. As in an earlier paper on harmonic series of 1734 he used \(\infty\) as an infinitely large number. If \(S(x)\) was the partial sum up to \(n=x\), then \(S(\infty+\omega)-S(\infty)\) was, for infinitesimal \(\omega\), the differential of the inexplicable function \(S(x)\). The author clarifies the conceptual development from reasoning by geometrical figures to algebraic analysis, and claims to see a `theory' of series in Euler's work.