Proof Without Words: Sums of Every Third Triangular Number

Roger B. Nelsen (nelsen@lclark.edu), Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR

Let Tk denote the kth triangular number, Tk = 1 + 2 + · · · + k. We show that

T3 + T6 + · · · + T3n = 3(n + 1)Tn .

Proof.
I. T3k = 3(k 2 + Tk ).

Tk

3k k2
Tk

k2 k2
Tk


n
II. (k 2 + Tk ) = (n + 1)Tn .
k=1

Tn
...
T3
n+1
T2 n2
...
T1 9
4
1
1 2 3 ... n


n 
n
Exercise: Show that T3k−1 = 3nTn and T3k−2 = 3(n − 1)Tn + n.
k=1 k=1

Summary. A visual proof relating sums of every third triangular number to a single
triangular number.

http://dx.doi.org/10.4169/college.math.j.46.2.98
MSC: 11B65

98 © THE MATHEMATICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA