Question

Use the sigma notation to write this summation in compact form:

1+4+9+16

how would i do this? i see the pattern is +3,+5,+7, etc..... :/

thank you! :)

Answer 1

would this be right so far? :/

Answer 2

yeah, now just write the general n'th term formula for the sequence

Answer 3

do you see any pattern in the terms ?

Answer 4

they're adding odd numbers?:/

not quite sure how to interpret the pattern into an equation though:(

Answer 5

what about squares ? :P

1^2, 2^2,3^2,...

Answer 6

ohh i see..

so it's going 1^2 = 1

2^2 = 4

3^2 = 9

4^2 = 16

? :O

so would it be n^2 ? :/ or is there another way to write it?

Answer 7

n^2 is totally correct :)

Answer 8

ahh okay yay!!

so with sigma notation, you always use the variable k?

Answer 9

your wish, you can use 'n' or 'k' or even long names like "\(i\heartsuit food\)"

Answer 10

hahaha okay:)

thank you!! :D

i have two more that are for writing summations into compact form... could i post here? or would you be able to help in a new post?

Answer 11

new post :)

Answer 12

okay:)