Compute Sums with summation notation

1. Summation Properties
n
X n
X
(1.1) can = c ai .
i=1 i=1
Xn n
X n
X
(1.2) [an ± bn ] = ai + bi .
i=1 i=1 i=1
2. Summation Formulas
n n
X X n(n + 1)
1=n i=
i=1 i=1
2
n n
X n(n + 1)(2n + 1) X n2 (n + 1)2
i2 = i3 =
i=1
6 i=1
4

Example 1 Express
1 1 1 1 1
− + − +
3 9 27 81 343
in summation notation:
Solution: Observe that 31 = 3, 32 = 9, 33 = 27, 34 = 81 and 35 = 343, also (−1)n = 1 if n is
even and (−1)n = −1 if n is odd. Thus
5
1 1 1 1 1 X (−1)i+1
− + − + = .
3 9 27 81 343 i=1 i2

Example 2 Express
2 4 8 16 32
+ + + +
3 9 27 81 343
in summation notation:
Solution: Observe that 21 = 2, 22 = 4, 23 = 8, 24 = 16 and 25 = 32, and that 31 = 3, 32 =
9, 33 = 27, 34 = 81. Thus
5  i
2 4 8 16 32 X 2
+ + + + = .
3 9 27 81 343 i=1 3
6 √ 7
X X (−1)k+1
Example 3 Express the sums 2i and in expanded notation.
i=1 k=1
k2
Solution:
6 √
X √ √ √ √ √ √
2i = 2+2 2+3 2+4 2+5 2+6 2
i=1
7
X (−1)k+1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= 1− + − + − + .
k=1
k2 4 9 16 25 36 49

1
 10
X
Example 4 Evaluate (4i − 3).
i=1
Solution: Use Summation Properties first then apply the formulas (with n = 10).
10 10 10 10 10
X X X X X 10(10 + 1)
(4i − 3) = 4i − 3=4 i−3 1=4 − 3(10) = 220 − 30 = 190.
i=1 i=1 i=1 i=1 i=1
2

6
X
Example 5 Evaluate (i3 − i2 ).
i=1
Solution: Use Summation Properties first then apply the formulas (with n = 6).
6 6 6
X X X 62 (6 + 1)2 6(6 + 1)(12 + 1)
(i3 − i2 ) = i3 − i2 = − = 441 − 91 = 350.
i=1 i=1 i=1
4 6

13 + 23 + · · · + n 3
Example 6 Evaluate lim .
n→∞ n4
Solution: Use summation notation and summation formula, the numerator becomes
n
X n2 (n + 1)2
13 + 23 + · · · + n 3 = i3 = .
i=1
4

Thus
13 + 23 + · · · + n3 n2 (n + 1)2 1
lim = lim = .
n→∞ n4 n→∞ 4n4 4