Sums of powers of integers and hyperharmonic numbers

Abstract

In this paper, we derive a formula for the sums of powers of the first $n$ positive integers, $S_k(n)$, that involves the hyperharmonic numbers and the Stirling numbers of the second kind. Then, using an explicit representation for the hyperharmonic numbers, we generalize this formula to the sums of powers of an arbitrary arithmetic progression. Moreover, we express the Bernoulli polynomials in terms of hyperharmonic polynomials and Stirling numbers of the second kind. Finally, we extend the obtained formula for $S_k(n)$ to negative values of $n$.