On some properties of the series ∑k=0 kx and the Stirling numbers of the second kind

We partially characterize the rational numbers x and integers n 0 for which the sum ∑_k=0^∞ kⁿx^k assumes integers. We prove that if ∑_k=0^∞ kⁿx^k is an integer for x = 1 ? a/b with a, b> 0 integers and gcd(a,b) = 1, then a = 1 or 2. Partial results and conjectures are given which indicate for which b and n it is an integer if a = 2. The proof is based on lower bounds on the multiplicities of factors of the Stirling number of the second kind, S(n,k). More specifically, we obtain for all integers k, 2 k n, and a 3, provided a is odd or divisible by 4, where v_a(m) denotes the exponent of the highest power of a which divides m, for m and a> 1 integers.

New identities are also derived for the Stirling numbers, e.g., we show that ∑_k=0²ⁿk! S(2n, k) , for all integers n 1.