Summations

16
16.1 FINITE SUMS

n(n + 1)
1+ 2 + 3 +…+ n = (16.1)
2

n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
12 + 2 2 + 32 + … + n 2 = (16.2)
6

13 + 23 + 33 + … + n3 = (1 + 2 + 3 + … + n)2 (16.3)

1 + 3 + 5 + … + (2n – 1) = n2 (16.4)

a + ar + ar 2 + ar 3 + … + ar n =
(
a 1 − r n +1 ) (r ≠ 1) (16.5)
1− r

16.2 INFINITE SUMS

a + ar + ar 2 + ar 3 + … =
a
1− r
( r < 1) (16.6)

1ar + 2 ar 2 + 3ar 3 + … =
ar
( r < 1) (16.7)
( r)2
1 −

ar(1 + r )
12 ar + 2 2 ar 2 + 32 ar 3 + … = ( r < 1) (16.8)
(1 − r )3

©2001 CRC Press LLC

 1 1 1 π2
2
+ 2 + 2 +… = (16.9)
1 2 3 6

1 1 1 π2
2
− 2 + 2 −… = (16.10)
1 2 3 12

lim 1 + + + + − ln(n) = γ

1 1 … 1
(16.11)
n→∞  2 3 n 

where γ ≅ 0.577216 is Euler’s constant.

(Abramowitz and Stegun, 1968; Gradshteyn and Ryzhik, 1965; Zwillinger,
1996).

©2001 CRC Press LLC