1

Summation Notation

When we wish to make a sum of many number, the following notation is used:
n
X

f (i) := f (1) + f (2) + f (3) + . . . + f (n 1) + f (n).

i=1

In summation notation, as this is called, the variable i is an integer and the function f is evaluated
at all integers between the lower and upper summation limits.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.

P5
3

i2 = 32 + 42 + 52 = 50

P10
1

P3
1

P2
0

i = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 = 55

1+1+1=3
sin(i 2 ) = sin(0) + sin( 2 ) + sin() = 1

Summation Properties

Constant
Additivity
Linearity
Constant Multiple
Summation Limits
Monotonicity
Examples:

Pn
i=1 c = nc
Pn
P
P
f (i) + g(i) = ni=1 f (i) + ni=1 g(i)
i=1
Pn
P
P
= a ni=1 f (i) + b ni=1 g(i)
i=1 af (i) + bg(i)
Pn
P
cf (i) = c i=1 nf (i)
Pi=1
P
P
b
f (i) + ci=b f (i) = ci=a f (i)
i=a
Pb
i=a c = (b a + 1)c
Pb
Pb

If f (i) g(i) for each i then

1. For i 3, i2 9, therefore

P10
3

3 = 3(10 2)

i=a

P10
3

f (i)
i2

Special Summations

Constant

Pn

c = nc
n(n+1)
i=1 i =
2
Pn
n(n+1)(2n+1)
2
i
=
i=1
6
Pn
n(n+1) 2
3
i
=
(
)
i=1
2
Examples:

1.

Pn
1

Pi=1
n

2i 3i2 = 2

Pn

i=1

i3

Pn

i=1

i2 = 2 n(n+1)
3 n(n+1)(2n+1)
2
6

i=a

g(i)

Area Computation by Regular Partitions

To find the area of the region bounded by the graph y = f (x) (with f (x) 0), the vertical lines x = a
and x = b and the x-axis (that is, the area under the curve y = f (x) between a and b, proceed as follows:
1. Subdivide the interval [a, b] into n subintervals [xi1 , xi ], of equal width x =
xi = a + ix.

ba
.
n

The endpoints

2. In each interval, determine a point xi by a prescribed method. For example, for circumscribed
rectangles choose xi equal to the point where the absolute maximum of f occurs in the interval
(assuming f is continuous.)
3. Form the approximation to the area using the Riemann sum,
i=n
X

f (xi )x

i=1

and simplify using summation formulae.

4. Find the limit as n goes to infinity.
If f is a continuous function, this limit exists and is called the definite integral of f from a to b and
denoted:
Z b
f
a

Exercise

Find the area under the curve y = x2 + x from x = 1 to x = 2 using the method of regular partitions
and circumscribed rectangles.
6
5
4
3
2
1

0.5

1.5