# Determining the value of summations using combinatorial mathematics

• October 14th 2012, 01:20 PM
Amanoo
Determining the value of summations using combinatorial mathematics
This is from my book on discrete and combinatorial mathematics, in the chapter about combinations (just for clarity, this stuff Combination - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , but you probably new that). Considering the chapter it is from, simply filling it in shouldn't be the way they expect you to solve it. I probably have to use some sort of binominal coefficients. No idea how to apply it in this case, though...
It shouldn't be too hard, considering it is from the beginning of the book (and from a first year's course), but I simply have no idea.

All the exercise says is this: "Determine the value of each the following summations"

a)
6
Σ (i^2+1)
i=1

b)
2
Σ (j^3-1)
j=-2

c)
10
Σ (1+(-1)^i)
i=0
• October 14th 2012, 01:35 PM
Plato
Re: Determining the value of summations using combinatorial mathematics
Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanoo
This is from my book on discrete and combinatorial mathematics, in the chapter about combinations
All the exercise says is this: "Determine the value of each the following summations"
a)
6
Σ (i^2+1)
i=1

b)
2
Σ (j^3-1)
j=-2

c)
10
Σ (1+(-1)^i)
i=0

These are such well known sums, why use anything else?
$\sum\limits_{k = 1}^n {k^2 } = \frac{{n(n + 1)(2n + 1)}}{6}\;\& \;\sum\limits_{k = 1}^n {k^3 } = \left[ {\frac{{n(n + 1)}}{2}} \right]^2$

Just break up those sums.
• October 14th 2012, 01:39 PM
TheEmptySet
Re: Determining the value of summations using combinatorial mathematics
Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanoo
This is from my book on discrete and combinatorial mathematics, in the chapter about combinations (just for clarity, this stuff Combination - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , but you probably new that). Considering the chapter it is from, simply filling it in shouldn't be the way they expect you to solve it. I probably have to use some sort of binominal coefficients. No idea how to apply it in this case, though...
It shouldn't be too hard, considering it is from the beginning of the book (and from a first year's course), but I simply have no idea.

All the exercise says is this: "Determine the value of each the following summations"

a)
6
Σ (i^2+1)
i=1

b)
2
Σ (j^3-1)
j=-2

c)
10
Σ (1+(-1)^i)
i=0

The summation symbol is just a for loop (if that helps)

Here is the first one

It is just telling us to plug in i=1, i=2, i=3, i=4 and so forth until we get to i=6
$\sum_{i=1}^{6}(i^2+1)=(1^2+1)+(2^2+1+(3^2+1)+(4^2+ 1)+(5^2+1)+(6^2+1)$

Now just simplfy and add up all of the numbers.
• October 14th 2012, 01:46 PM
Amanoo
Re: Determining the value of summations using combinatorial mathematics
Do you really think I should merely enter the numbers and add them up? It just seems too easy, especially since the chapter they're from isn't about summations at all. It is about combinations.
• October 14th 2012, 01:59 PM
Plato
Re: Determining the value of summations using combinatorial mathematics
Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanoo
Do you really think I should merely enter the numbers and add them up? It just seems too easy, especially since the chapter they're from isn't about summations at all. It is about combinations.

I don't. But neither do I think combinatorics are necessary.
$\sum\limits_{k = 1}^6 {\left( {k^2 + 1} \right)} = \sum\limits_{k = 1}^6 {\left( {k^2 } \right)} + \sum\limits_{k = 1}^6 {\left( 1 \right)} = \frac{{6(6 + 1)(2 \cdot 6 + 1)}}{2} + 6$