# Function giving negative value when it should be positive [closed]

I am trying to evaluate $$\displaystyle J=A\sum_{k=0}^{n-2}(-1)^k{n-2 \choose k}B^{n-2-k}\left(\frac{C_1}{k+n}-\frac{C_2}{k+n+1}+\frac{C_3}{k+n+2}-\frac{2}{k+n+3}\right)$$ in Mathematica as a function of n (i.e. J[n])

Note that B, C1, C2, etc are just coefficients for some parameters I have in the model. I assign their values before I enter the function. They are given below for reference

$$\left\{\begin{array}{cc}\left((n-1)nv^{-2n}\lambda^{-n}\right)=A \\ v+\lambda v=B\end{array}\right.$$ $$\left\{\begin{array}{cc}(v^2B\lambda)=C_1 \\ (vB+(B+2v)\lambda v)=C_2 \\ (2\lambda v+B+2v)=C_3 \end{array}\right.$$

Currently I have J[n] coded as:

J[n_] :=
a Sum[(-1^k) Binomial[n - 2, k] (b^(n - 2 - k))
((c1/(k + n)) - (c2/(k + n + 1)) - (c3/(k + n + 2)) - (2/(k + n + 3))),
{k, 0, n - 2}]


But when I call it by J[5] with {v, lambda} = {1.3, 2.1}, for instance, I get a negative value when it should be positive!

Another user, Dolma, who helped me derive the function (it's a definite integral of another function) claims it is positive here.

I trust that I am doing something wrong more so than Dolma's derivation being wrong, though I should mention Mathematica provides a MUCH more complex answer to this integral than in the post above.

Can anyone spot where I am making a mistake?

I appreciate your time and insight!

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## closed as too localized by Sjoerd C. de Vries, m_goldberg, Yves Klett, Artes, halirutanApr 24 '13 at 10:07

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I should add that I'm new to both stack exchange and somewhat new to Mathematica (only a user since v7), so I apologize for anything glaring I have missed. –  BorderedHessian Apr 24 '13 at 4:04
It would be useful to see all of the code. Note that there is a difference between (-1)^k and -1^k. –  Jonathan Shock Apr 24 '13 at 4:38
I tried both the initial integral and the series you give for your provided values and get the same result $0.31644$ if you get $-0.31644$ the I think that @JonathanShock hit the spot. –  Spawn1701D Apr 24 '13 at 4:44
EDIT- Thanks @JonathanShock Shock, this worked, I GREATLY appreciate it. I've been staring at the damn thing for too long. –  BorderedHessian Apr 24 '13 at 4:47
..and in your Mathematica input, your third term in the Binomial is '-(c3/(k+n+2))' whereas in your formula its '+(c3....)' –  PlaysDice Nov 19 '13 at 14:28

Note that in Mathematica there is a difference between (-1)^k and -1^k
@BorderedHessian, can't help you there I'm afraid. If you want to know what's happening with a particular syntax then looking at the FullForm of the expression can be of use. –  Jonathan Shock Apr 24 '13 at 6:18