# Math Help - What is the symbol for summing odd numbers?

1. ## What is the symbol for summing odd numbers?

What would I use instead of $\sum$ if I just wanted to sum odd values for some number n through k?

2. Originally Posted by billym
What would I use instead of $\sum$ if I just wanted to sum odd values for some number n through k?

$\sum_{i=0}^r 2i+n$

Where $n$ is the odd number you want to start with

You would need to decide what $r$ would be so that you stopped at the correct value

$
2r+n=k
$

3. Originally Posted by billym
What would I use instead of $\sum$ if I just wanted to sum odd values for some number n through k?
I think you mean start from n and end at k by 2's. You can do this a few ways.

$\sum_{n=1,3,5...}^{k} a_n$ works but looks bad.

If you want to sum over all odds you can write $\sum_{odds}$

If you want to skip terms in a sequence you can write

$\sum_{n}^{k} a_{2n}$

I don't know exactly what you meant but those are some of my guesses.

4. Originally Posted by billym
What would I use instead of $\sum$ if I just wanted to sum odd values for some number n through k?
$\sum\limits_{j = \left\lfloor {\frac{n}
{2}} \right\rfloor }^{\left\lfloor {\frac{{k - 1}}
{2}} \right\rfloor } {2j + 1}$

5. edit:nevermind

6. I think I'll go with Jameson's bad looking one. Does the job.