Change of variable and discrete Hardy inequality

Abstract

For absolutely convergent series we state explicitly a one-sided summation estimate that can be viewed as the discrete analogue of the change of variable formula on the half line. This estimate is implicit in Pascal Lef\`evre's recent elegant proof of the classical discrete Hardy inequality. Here we remove a superfluous irrationality condition therein and point out the change of variable character of his approach. This leads to a simpler, shorter and \textit{bona fide} Ingham type proof of the discrete Hardy inequality, and also provides the optimal constant.