5 Sigma Notation Summary Notes

K ELVIN S OH
L AST UPDATED J ANUARY 21, 2015.

http://www.mathelement.com/

5.1 Sigma notation basics.

b
X

f (r ) = f (a) + f (a + 1) + + f (b 1) + f (b).

r =a

Number of terms in

b
X

f (r ): b a + 1.

r =a

5.2 Linearity formulas.

b
X

k f (r ) = k

r =a

f (r ).

r =a

b
X
r =a

b
X

X
b
b
X
f (r ) + g (r ) =
f (r ) +
g (r ).
r =a

r =a

5.3 Summation of constants.

b
X

k = (b a + 1)k.

r =a

5.4 Arithmetic and geometric series.

(A RITHMETIC S ERIES ):

n
X

(2r + 3) = 5 + 7 + 9 + + (2n + 3) =

r =1

(G EOMETRIC S ERIES ):

n
X

2r = 2 + 22 + 23 + + 2n =

r =1

n
(2n + 8).
2

2(2n 1)
= 2(2n 1).
21

5.5 Method of differences.

The method of differences involve computing a sum by identifying that
certain terms cancel out. The sum is sometimes called a telescoping sum.
Partial fractions is a technique often associated with this method.

5.6 Convergence of a series.

A series (or sum) is said to converge if it gets arbitrarily close to a number,
L, as the number of terms, n, gets very large.
We can identify if a sum converges by investigating its behavior as n .
If a series converge, L is said to be the sum to infinity. This is sometimes

X
written as
f (r ).
r =1

A series is said to diverge if no such behavior exists.

5.7 Manipulations involving the sigma notation: an example.

Suppose it is given that

n
X
r =1

n
X

r2 =

n
(n + 1)(2n + 1).
6

r2 =

r =0

n
X

r2 =

r =2

n
X

r2 =

r =7

n+1
X

r2 =

r =1

2n
X

r2 =

r =1

25
X

r2 =

r =5

To find,

n
X

(r + 1)2 ,

r =1

S TEP 1: With the known formula, replace r and both limits.

S TEP 2: Change the limits (if necessary).