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    221346
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    Series

    Definition of a Series

    Example

    Consider the sequence

            an  =  n2  

            {1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ...} 

    We make the following definition.  

            S1  = a1  =  1

            S2  =  a+ a2  =  1 + 5  =  5

            S3  =  a+ a2 + a3  =  1 + 4 + 9  =  13

     


    Exercise 

    Find S4  and S5 

     


    In general., for a sequence {an}  we define a new sequence called the sequence of partial sums by

            Sn =  a+ a2 + a3 + ... + an  

     

    Exercise

    Find S5 for

    1. an  =  2n + 1 

       

    2. an  =  (-1)n  
       


    Sigma Notation

    Instead of using the " ... " notation we use the following notation:

    Example

    \( \displaystyle\sum_{i=3}^{6} \frac{1}{i}  \) =  1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6

    We read this as

     "The sum from i equals 3 to 6 of over i." 

     i is called the index of summation.  Think of sigma as a big plus sign.  The bottom number tells you where to start and the top number tells you where to end.

     


    Example

     \( \displaystyle\sum_{i=2}^{6} 1+i^2  \) = (1 + 4) + (1 + 9) + (1 + 16) + ( 1 + 25) + (1 + 36)

     


    Example

    Write 

            3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + ... + 23

    in sigma notation

     

    Solution

    • Step 1  Identify an  (this goes to the right of the sigma sign)

      We see that 

              an  =  2n + 1
       

    • Step 2  Solve for n to find out what n the first term uses.  (this goes on the bottom of the sigma sign)

      Since 

              2n+ 1 = 3  

      has solution 

              n = 1

      the first term uses n = 1

       

    • Step 3  Find out what n the last term uses (this goes on the top of the sigma sign)

      We solve: 

              2n + 1 = 23 

      has solution 

              n = 12
       

    • Step 4  Write

              \( \displaystyle\sum_{i= \text{first }n}^{\text{last }n} a_n  \) 

       

      for the example,

              \( \displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^{12} 2i + 1  \) 


    Exercises

    Write the following in sigma notation

     

    1. {3, 6, 9, 12, ... 120}
       

    2. {-1, 2, -4, ..., 128}

     


    Back to the Sequences and Series Page

     

     

    Series is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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