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Unpacking The Meaning of Summa On Nota On: This Is The Sigma Symbol: - It Tells Us That We Are Summing Something.

The document explains summation notation using examples. Summation notation uses the Greek letter sigma (Σ) to represent the sum of terms of an expression where the variable is incremented from a starting value to an end value. For example, Σn=13(2n-1) would be the sum of the terms 2(1)-1, 2(2)-1, and 2(3)-1. The key is that the variable being incremented, here n, is substituted into the expression being summed while other variables remain unchanged.

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Marc Aljhon Cruzata Bhote
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97 views7 pages

Unpacking The Meaning of Summa On Nota On: This Is The Sigma Symbol: - It Tells Us That We Are Summing Something.

The document explains summation notation using examples. Summation notation uses the Greek letter sigma (Σ) to represent the sum of terms of an expression where the variable is incremented from a starting value to an end value. For example, Σn=13(2n-1) would be the sum of the terms 2(1)-1, 2(2)-1, and 2(3)-1. The key is that the variable being incremented, here n, is substituted into the expression being summed while other variables remain unchanged.

Uploaded by

Marc Aljhon Cruzata Bhote
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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7/12/2019 Summation notation (also called sigma notation) (article) | Khan Academy

Unpacking the meaning of


summa on nota on
This is the sigma symbol: ∑. It tells us that we are
summing something.

Let's start with a basic example:

Stop at n = 3

(inclusive)

3
∑2n − 1
n=1
↖
↗ Expression for each

Start at n = 1 term in the sum

This is a summa on of the expression 2n − 1 for


integer values of n from 1 to 3:

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-integration-new/ab-6-3/a/review-summation-notation 1/7
7/12/2019 Summation notation (also called sigma notation) (article) | Khan Academy

3
∑ 2n − 1
n=1

= [2(1) − 1] + [2(2) − 1] + [2(3) − 1]


n=1 n=2 n=3

=1+3+5

=9

No ce how we subs tuted n = 1, n = 2, and n = 3


into 2n − 1 and summed the resul ng terms.

n is our summa on index. When we evaluate a


summa on expression, we keep subs tu ng
different values for our index.

PROBLEM 1

4
∑ n2 =?
n=1

Choose 1 answer:

INCORRECT

1+2+3+4

CORRECT (SELECTED)

12 + 22 + 32 + 42

C (1 + 2 + 3 + 4)2
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-integration-new/ab-6-3/a/review-summation-notation 2/7
7/12/2019 Summation notation (also called sigma notation) (article) | Khan Academy

D 12 + 42

Check

Hide explana on

This is a summa on of n2 for values of n from 1 to


4:

4
∑ n2
n=1

= 12 + 22 + 32 + 42
n=1 n=2 n=3 n=4

We can start and end the summa on at any value


of n. For example, this sum takes integer values of
n from 4 to 6:

6
∑n − 1
n=4

= (4 − 1) + (5 − 1) + (6 − 1)
n=4 n=5 n=6

=3+4+5

= 12

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-integration-new/ab-6-3/a/review-summation-notation 3/7
7/12/2019 Summation notation (also called sigma notation) (article) | Khan Academy

We can use any le er we want for our index. For


example, this expression has i for its index:

2
∑ 3i − 5
i=0

= [3(0)−5] + [3(1)−5] + [3(2)−5]


i=0 i=1 i=2

= −5 + (−2) + 1

= −6

PROBLEM 2

5
∑ k(k + 1) =
k=3

We couldn't grade your answer. It looks like you le something blank or


entered in an invalid answer.

Check

Hide explana on
5
∑ k(k + 1) =
k=3

= (3)[(3) + 1] + (4)[(4) + 1] + (5)[(5) + 1]

= 12 + 20 + 30

= 62
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-integration-new/ab-6-3/a/review-summation-notation 4/7
7/12/2019 Summation notation (also called sigma notation) (article) | Khan Academy

PROBLEM 3

Consider the sum 4 + 25 + 64 + 121.

Which expression is equal to the above sum?

Choose all answers that apply:

3
A ∑ (i2 + 2i + 4)
i=0

3
B ∑(3i + 2)2
i=0

C None of the above

Check

Hide explana on
3
∑ (i2 + 2i + 4)
i=0

= [(0)2 +2(0)+4] + [(1)2 +2(1)+4] + [(2)2 +2(2)+4

= 4 + 7 + 12 + 19

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-integration-new/ab-6-3/a/review-summation-notation 5/7
7/12/2019 Summation notation (also called sigma notation) (article) | Khan Academy

3
∑(3i + 2)2
i=0

= [(3(0) + 2)2 ] + [(3(1) + 2)2 ] + [(3(2) + 2)2 ] + [(

= 4 + 25 + 64 + 121

3
In conclusion, only ∑(3i + 2)2 is equal to
i=0
4 + 25 + 64 + 121.

Some summa on expressions have variables other


than the index. Consider this sum:

4
k
∑ .
n=1
n+1

No ce that our index is n, not k . This means we


subs tute the values into n, and k remains
unknown:

3
k
∑
n=1
n+1

k k k
= + +
(1) + 1 (2) + 1 (3) + 1

k k k
= + +
2 3 4

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-integration-new/ab-6-3/a/review-summation-notation 6/7
7/12/2019 Summation notation (also called sigma notation) (article) | Khan Academy

Key takeaway: Before evalua ng a sum in


summa on nota on, always make sure you
iden fied the index, and that you are only
subs tu ng into that index. Other unknowns
should remain as they are.

PROBLEM 4

4
∑ 8k − 6m = ?
m=1

Choose 1 answer:

A 8k − 6 + 8k − 12 + 8k − 18 + 8k − 24

B 2+4+6+8

C 8 − 6m + 16 − 6m + 24 − 6m + 32 − 6m

D 0+2+4+6

Check

Hide explana on

4
∑ 8k − 6m
m=1

= [8k − 6(1)] + [8k − 6(2)] + [8k − 6(3)] + [8k − 6(4

= 8k − 6 + 8k − 12 + 8k − 18 + 8k − 24

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-integration-new/ab-6-3/a/review-summation-notation 7/7

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