Proof of conjectures on series with summands involving $ \binom{2k}{k}8^k/(\binom{3k}{k}\binom{6k}{3k})$

Zhi-Wei Sun, Yajun Zhou

Published 2024-01-25Version 1

Using cyclotomic multiple zeta values of level $8$, we confirm and generalize several conjectural identities on infinite series with summands involving $\binom{2k}k8^k/(\binom{3k}k\binom{6k}{3k})$. For example, we prove that \[\sum_{k=0}^\infty\frac{(350k-17)\binom{2k}k8^k} {\binom{3k}k\binom{6k}{3k}}=15\sqrt2\,\pi+27\] and \[\sum_{k=1}^\infty\frac{\left\{(5k-1)\left[16\mathsf H_{2k-1}^{(2)}-3\mathsf H_{k-1}^{(2)}\right]-\frac{12(6k-1)}{(2k-1)^2}\right\}\binom{2k}k8^k} {k(2k-1)\binom{3k}k\binom{6k}{3k}}=\frac{\pi^3}{12\sqrt2},\] where $\mathsf H^{(2)}_m$ denotes the second-order harmonic number $\sum_{0<j\leq m}\frac1{j^2}$.