11

8
Pre-Calculus
Module 7

Sigma Notation

0
 PRE-CALCULUS MODULE 7
PART I.
A. Introduction

We learned in last module that series play an important role in various

aspects of our lives. They help us predict, evaluate and monitor the outcome of a
situation or event and help us a lot in decision making. If you look around in your
surroundings, you will find a number of patterns in nature – leaves and flowers
with similar structures, the ripples on a lake, the symmetry of a starfish and many
more patterns that don’t cease to amaze us.

Series plays an important field of many disciplines, especially physics and

chemistry. They are used for analysis of current flow and sound waves, calculating
the time it takes a bouncing ball to come to rest or the swing of a pendulum to
stop.

B. Pre-Test
Directions: Find out how much you already know about the topics in this
module. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer.
1. The summation notation of the series 1/2+1/6+1/12+ ∙ ∙ ∙+1/132 is
a. ∑9𝑛=1(3 + 2𝑛) c. ∑9𝑛=1(3 + 4𝑛)
b. ∑9𝑛=1(3 + 3𝑛) d. ∑9𝑛=1(3 + 5𝑛)
2. The summation notation of the series 5 + 10 + 15 + . . . + 50 is
a. ∑10
𝑛=1 5𝑛 b. ∑10
𝑛=1 4𝑛 c. 𝑛=1 3𝑛 d.
∑10 ∑10
𝑛=1 2𝑛
(For Nos. 3 – 7) Given that 𝑎1 = 42 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∑𝑛=1 2014, use the properties of the sigma
10

notation to compute the sum.

3. The sum of ∑10𝑛=1 1980 is
a. 1980 b. 19800 c. 19860 d. 19860
10
4. The sum of ∑𝑛=1 5𝑎𝑛 is
a. 10,070 b. 20,070 c. 20,700 d.10,700
10
5. The sum of ∑𝑛=1(𝑎𝑛 − 2) is
a. 1243 b. 1964 c. 1280 d. 1994
10
6. The sum of ∑𝑛=1(3 − 2𝑎𝑛 ) is
a. – 8993 b. – 7129 c. – 3998 d. –3922
1
7. The sum of ∑10
𝑛=2 (88 − 2 𝑎𝑛 ) is
a. – 199 b. –194 c. – 292 d. –322
8. Which of the following is true?
a. A sequence is the indicated sum of the terms of a series
b. There is only one way to write a given sum in summation notation.
c. ∑4𝑖=1 3𝑖 + ∑4𝑖=1 4𝑖 = ∑4𝑖=1 7𝑖
d. ∑2𝑖=1(−1)𝑖 2𝑖 = 0
9. Which of the following is the sum of ∑4𝑛=1 3𝑛
a. 30 b. 35 c. 40 d. 45
10. Which of the following is the sum of ∑5𝑘=2(𝑛 + 7)
a. 12 b. 22 c. 32 d. 42

1
 C. Presentation / Discussion
MELC (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-3): Use the Sigma Notation to Represent A Series
and Applying Sigma Notation in Finding Sums.
The sigma notation is a continuation on the discussion of topic Series and
Sequence. Mathematics have compact notation for dealing with series which is
called summation notation or sigma notation.
The name comes from the use of stylized version of the capital Greek letter
sigma, denoted by Σ. Example the given a sequence {𝑎𝑛 }, the expression 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 +
𝑎3 + . . . +𝑎𝑛 is called series the notation ∑𝑛𝑘=1 𝑎𝑘 is called the sigma notation of the
series.
To denote the total number of objects, ideas, or persons under study, we use
the summation Notation

Read as “the sum of all the X sub

Upper Limit i’s from 𝑖 = 1 𝑡𝑜 𝑖 = 𝑛” or “the sum
as i goes from 1 to n of X sub i’s.
Lower Limit

When all the values of 𝑋𝑖 are understood to

be added, the sum can simply be denoted as ∑ 𝑋.
The letter i is called the index of summation and is not related to the use of
i to represent √−1. Any letter can be used for the index of summation. Furthermore,
the index of summation can start at any number other than 1.
Illustrative Examples
The following list of numbers is a sequence:
1. 1, 2, 22 , . . . , 212
2. 𝑥, (1 + 2𝑥 ), (2 + 3𝑥 ), (3 + 4𝑥 ), … , (2021 + 2022𝑥 )
1 1 1
3. 1, 2 , 3 , 4 , …
4. 1, 1 + 2, 1 + 2 + 3, . . . , +1 + 2 + 3+ . . . +10
5. 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 14
6. 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11
7. 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 6 − 𝑥 8 + 𝑥 10
On the other hand, let us convert the sequences above into series and in sigma
notation.
12
2 12
1. 1 + 2 + 2 +. . . +2 = ∑ 2𝑘
𝑘=0
2021

2. 𝑥 + (1 + 2𝑥 ), (2 + 3𝑥 ), (3 + 4𝑥 )+ . . . + (2021 + 2022𝑥 ) = ∑ [𝑖 + (𝑖 + 1)𝑥 ]

𝑖=0
2021
1 1 1 1 1
3. 1+ + + +⋯+ = ∑
2 3 4 2021 𝑛
𝑛=1
10 10 𝑗

4. 1, (1 + 2), (1 + 2 + 3), … , +(1 + 2 + 3+ . . . +10) = ∑(1 + 2 + 3 + ⋯ + 𝑗) = ∑ ∑ 𝑖

𝑖=1 𝑗=1 𝑖=1

2
 7

5. 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 14 = ∑ 2𝑛
𝑛=1

6. 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 = ∑ 2𝑛 − 1
𝑛=1

5
2 4 6 8 10
7. 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 𝑥 = ∑(−1)𝑛−1 𝑥 2𝑛
𝑛=1
Example 3.1
Write each series in sigma notation
1. 2 + 4 + 6 + ⋯ + 100
2. 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + ⋯ + 2 048
1 1 1
3. 1 − 2 + 3 − ⋯ + 30
4. 2 + 5 + 8 + ⋯ + 302
5. −1 + 3 − 5 + 7 − 9
Solutions
50

1. 2(1) + 2(2) + 2(3) + ⋯ + 2(50) = ∑(2𝑘)

𝑘=1
11

2. 20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + ⋯ + 211 = ∑ 2𝑘−1
𝑘=1
31
1 1 1 (−1 )𝑘−1
3. 1− + − ⋯+ =∑
2 3 31 𝑘
𝑘=1
101

4. [2 + 3(0)] + [2 + 3(1)] + [2 + 3(2)] + ⋯ + [2 + 3(100)] = ∑[2 + 3(𝑘 − 1)]

𝑘=1
101

= ∑(3𝑘 − 1)
𝑘=1
5

5. − 1 + 3 − 5 + 7 − 9 = ∑(−1)𝑘 (2𝑘 − 1)
𝑘=1

Example 3.2
Find the sum of the series.
6

1. ∑(3𝑘)
𝑘=1
5

2. ∑(2𝑘 − 1)
𝑘=2
6

3. ∑(−1)𝑘
𝑘=0

3
 5
(−1)𝑘−1 𝑘
4. ∑
2𝑘
𝑘=1
4 𝑘
2
5. ∑ (− + 𝑘)
3
𝑘=1

Solutions:
5

1. ∑(3𝑘) = 3(1) + 3(2) + 3(3) + 3(4) + 3(5) + 3(6) = 63

𝑘=1
6

2. ∑(2𝑘 − 2) = [2(2) − 2] + [2(3) − 2] + [2(4) − 2] + [2(5) − 2] + [2(6) − 2]

𝑘=2
= 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 = 30
6

3. ∑(−1)𝑘 = (−1)0 + (−1)1 + (−1)2 + (−1)3 + (−1)4 + (−1)5 + (−1)6 = 1

𝑘=0
6
(−1)𝑘−1 𝑘
4. ∑
2𝑘
𝑘=1
(−1)0 (1) (−1)1 (2) (−1)2 (3) (−1)3 (4) (−1)4 (5) (−1)5 (6)
= + + + + +
21 22 23 24 25 26
1 2 3 4 5 6 3
= 1− 2+ 3− 4+ 5− 6=
2 2 2 2 2 2 16
4 𝑘 1 2 3 4
2 2 2 2 2
5. ∑ (− + 𝑘) = (− + 1) + (− + 2) + (− + 3) + (− + 4)
3 3 3 3 3
𝑘=1
1 1 4 2 7 3 10 4 11 200 22
=( ) +( ) +( ) +( ) = = 138
3 3 3 3 81 81
Properties of Sigma Notation
𝑛

1. ∑ 𝑐 = 𝑛𝑐, 𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑘=1

𝑛 𝑛

2. ∑(𝑐𝑎𝑘 ) = 𝑐 ∑ 𝑎𝑘 , 𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑘=1 𝑘=1
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛

3. ∑(𝑎𝑘 + 𝑏𝑘 ) = ∑ 𝑎𝑘 + ∑ 𝑏𝑘
𝑘=1 𝑘=1 𝑘=1

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛

4. ∑(𝑎𝑘 − 𝑏𝑘 ) = ∑ 𝑎𝑘 − ∑ 𝑏𝑘
𝑘=1 𝑘=1 𝑘=1

𝑚 𝑛 𝑛

5. ∑ 𝑎𝑘 + ∑ 𝑎𝑘 = ∑ 𝑎𝑘 , 𝑚 < 𝑛
𝑘=1 𝑘=𝑚+1 𝑘=1

4
 𝑛

6. ∑(𝑎𝑘+1 − 𝑎𝑘 ) = 𝑎𝑛+1 − 𝑎1 (𝑇𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑢𝑚)

𝑘=1

Example 3.3
Given that 𝑎1 = 24 and ∑10
𝑛=1 𝑎𝑘 = 2022, use the properties of
the sigma notation to compute the sum.
1. ∑10
𝑛=1 28
10 10

2. ∑ 2𝑎𝑛 4. ∑(2 − 3𝑎𝑛 )

𝑛=1 𝑛=1
10 10
1
3. ∑(𝑎𝑛 − 3) 5. ∑ (41 − 𝑎𝑛 )
𝑛=1
2
𝑛=2

Solutions:
10

1. ∑ 28 = 28(10) = 280 answer

𝑛=1

10 10

2. ∑ 2𝑎𝑛 = 2 ∑ 𝑎𝑛 = 2(2022) = 4 044 answer

𝑛=1 𝑛=1

10 10 10

3. ∑(𝑎𝑛 − 3) = ∑ 𝑎𝑛 − ∑ 3 = 2022 − 3(10) = 2022 − 30 = 1992 answer

𝑛=1 𝑛=1 𝑛=1

10 10 10

4. ∑(2 − 3𝑎𝑛 ) = ∑ 2 − 3 ∑ 𝑎𝑛 = 2(10) − 3(2022) = −6 046 answer

𝑛=1 𝑛=1 𝑛=1

10 10
1 1 1 1 1
5. ∑ (41 − 𝑎𝑛 ) = ∑ (41 − 𝑎𝑛 ) − (41 − 𝑎1 ) = [41(10) − (2022)] − [41 − (24)]
2 2 2 2 2
𝑛=2 𝑛−1
10
1
∑ (41 − 𝑎𝑛 ) = −601 − 29 = 630 answer
2
𝑛=2
Example 3.4
Use the formula for the telescoping sum to derive the formula
𝑛
𝑛(𝑛 + 1)
∑
2
𝑘=1
Solution: Consider the summation expression:

5
 𝑛

∑[(𝑘 + 1)2 − 𝑘 2 ]
𝑘=1
Then, we compute the sum in two different ways.
First, using the formula for the telescoping sum, we have
𝑛

∑[(𝑘 + 1)2 − 𝑘 2 ] = (𝑛 + 1)2 − 12 = 𝑛2 + 2𝑛

𝑘=1
Second, simplify the expression in the summand before applying the properties of
the summation notation.
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛

∑[(𝑘 + 1 )2 −𝑘 2]
= ∑(2𝑘 + 1) = 2 ∑ 𝑘 + 𝑛
𝑘=1 𝑘=1 𝑘=1
Then, equating the two expression, we get
𝑛

2 ∑ 𝑘 + 𝑛 = 𝑛2 + 2𝑛,
𝑘=1
Simplifying the expression will result to
𝑛(𝑛+1)
∑𝑛𝑘=1 𝑘 + 𝑛 = .
2
Part II – Activities
Multiple Choice.
Directions: Find out how much you already know about the topics in this
module. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer.
1. Which of the following is true?
a. The symbol ∑ represents sums and products.
b. There are 10 terms in the series ∑10
𝑖=2 𝑡 .
2

c. The sum of a series can never be negative.

(−1)𝑖 (−1)𝑗+1
d. The series ∑6𝑖=1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∑5𝑗=0 have the same sum
𝑖2 (𝑗+1)2
2. Which of the following is true?
a. A sequence is the indicated sum of the terms of a series
b. There is only one way to write a given sum in summation notation.
c. ∑4𝑖=1 3𝑖 + ∑4𝑖=1 4𝑖 = ∑4𝑖=1 7𝑖
d. ∑2𝑖=1(−1)𝑖 2𝑖 = 0

3. The summation notation of the series 3 + 6 + 9 + 12 is

a. ∑4𝑛=1 3𝑛 b. ∑4𝑛=1 3𝑛 − 1 c.∑4𝑛=1 2𝑛 + 1 d. ∑4𝑛=1 1 − 3𝑛

4. The summation notation of the series 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/6 + 1/8 is

1 1 1
a. ∑4𝑘=1 ( 𝑖 ) b. ∑4𝑘=1 (2𝑖) c. ∑4𝑘=1 (3𝑖)
1
d. ∑4𝑘=1 (4𝑖)

5. The summation notation of the series 2 + 6 + 18 + 54 is

a. ∑4𝑗=1 2(3𝑛+1 ) b. ∑4𝑗=1 2(3𝑛+2 ) c. ∑4𝑗=1 2(3𝑛− 1 )
d. ∑4𝑗=1 2(3𝑛−1 )

6
 7
Pre-Test Activities
1. C 6. C 1. D 6. C
2. A 7. B 2. C 7. B
3. B 8. C 3. A 8. A
4. A 9. A 4. B 9. A
5. D 10. D 5. C 10. B
Summative Evaluation
A.
6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2
1. ∑𝑖=1 𝑖 + 1 = 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 3 ) (42 + 4) + (52 + 5) + (52 + 6) = 97
+
7 ( ) 𝑛 ( ) 4 ( ) 5 ( ) 6 ( ) 7
2. ∑𝑛=4 −2 = −2 + −2 + −2 + −2 = 16 + (−32) + 64 + (−128) = −80
3 ( 𝑘 ) ( 0 ) ( 1 ) ( 2
3. ∑𝑘=0 2 + 4 = 2 + 4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 4 ) + (23 + 4) = 5 + 6 + 8 + 12 = 31
5 1 1 1 1 1 30 20 15 12 17
4. ∑𝑗=2
𝑗
= 2 + + 4 + 5 = 60 + 60 + 60 + 60 = 1 60
3
4 𝑡 0 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 43
5. ∑𝑡=0 =
𝑡+1 0+1
+ 1+1 + 2+1 + 3+1 + 4+1 = 0 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 2 60
B.
8 8
1 1
1. ∑ 𝑜𝑟 ∑ 𝑛−1
2𝑛 2
𝑛=0 𝑛=1
10
2. ∑(−1)𝑛+1 (2𝑛)
𝑛=1
∞
2 𝑛−1
3. ∑ 2 ( )
3
𝑛=1
∞
1 𝑛
4. ∑ 4 (− )
4
𝑛=0
∞
4 𝑛−1
5. ∑ 5 (− )
3
𝑛=1
ANSWER KEY
d. 973 c. 938 b. 983 a. 893
− 2) 𝑎=5(2𝑚
∑11 2
Evaluate 10.
9 8 7 6 5 7 7 5
+ + + + d. + +6+ b.
51 41 31 21 11 17 10 5 2
9 8 7 6 5 9 8 7 6 5
+ + + + c. + + + + a.
60 48 36 24 12 82 65 50 37 26
𝑛
? 9. Which of the following is the series of the summation notation ∑9𝑛=5
𝑛2 +1
3 2 2 4
+3+3+3 d. +3+4+5 c. +3+2+3 b. +5+6+7 a.
6 4 5 2 1 1 1 1 4 3 2 1 6 5 4 3
𝑐+1
8. Which of the following is the series of the summation notation ∑6𝑐=3
𝑐
3 3 3 3
d. −53 c. −46 b. −62 a. −56
2 2 2 2
7. Which of the following is the sum of ∑1𝑛=−5 −6 + 3 (𝑛 − 1)
4
d. 23 c. 20 b. 17 a. 15
6. Which of the following is the sum of ∑3𝑛=−3 3 − 3 (𝑛 − 1)
1
Part III. SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
Rubric: 5 points- all computation is complete and correct; 4
points-computation is generally correct and complete but
contain minor flaws; 3 points- computation is generally
incorrect and/ or incomplete; 2 points- computation is
incorrect but tried to answer; 1 point- contents unrelated to
question. This rubric will be the basis of your score so
therefore do your best and get the highest score.
A. Directions: Expand and evaluate the sum of each
summation notation.
6

1. ∑(𝑖 2 + 1)
𝑖=1
7

2. ∑ (−2)𝑛
𝑛=4
3

3. ∑(2𝑘 + 4)
𝑘=0
5
1
4. ∑
𝑗
𝑗=2
4
𝑡
5. ∑
𝑡+1
𝑡=0
B. Directions: Write the following series using summation
notation.
1 1 1 1
1. 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + ∙ ∙ ∙ + 128
2. 2 − 4 + 6 − 8+ . . . −20
4 8 16
3. 2 + 3 + 9 + 27 + ∙ ∙ ∙
1 1 1
4. −1 + 4 − 16 + 64 + ∙ ∙ ∙
2 2 2
5. 5 − 6 3 + 26 3 − 106 3 + ∙ ∙ ∙