CAPE PURE MATHEMATICS UNIT 2

Module 2: Series, Sequences and Approximations

Mr. Garth Reid

April 25, 2021

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An Interesting Question
Pn n(n+1)
Why do you think that the i=1 i = 2 ?

Proof
Pn
Let Sn = i=1 i

Sn = 1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + n

Sn = n + (n − 1) + (n − 2) + · · · + 1

Adding the equations above:

2Sn = (n + 1) + (n + 1) + (n + 1) + · · · + (n + 1)

2Sn = n(n + 1)
n(n+1)
∴ Sn = 2
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Important Results

n
X n(n + 1)
i=
2
i=1

n
X n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
i2 =
6
i=1

n
" n
#2  2
X
3
X n(n + 1)
i = i =
2
i=1 i=1

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Worked Examples

P30
Evaluate i=1 (i − 2)

Solution

30 30 30
X X X 30(30 + 1)
(i − 2) = i− (2) = − 30 × 2 = 405
2
i=1 i=1 i=1

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Worked Examples

P40
Evaluate i=1 i (i + 2)

Solution

40 40 40 40
X X
2

X
2
X 40(40 + 1)(2(40) + 1) 2(40)(40 + 1)
i (i + 2) = i + 2i = i +2 i= + = 23780
6 2
i=1 i=1 i=1 i=1

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Worked Examples

P25 3
Evaluate i=1 i

Solution

25
" 25 #2 
25(25 + 1) 2
X X 
3
i = i = = (325)2 = 105625
2
i=1 i=1

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Worked Examples

P25
Evaluate i=11 i

Solution

25 25 10
X X X 25(25 + 1) 10(10 + 1)
i= i− i= − = 270
2 2
i=11 i=1 i=1

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Worked Examples

P2n
Find i=1 (3i + 2)

Solution

2n 2n 2n
X X X 3(2n)(2n + 1) 6n(2n + 1) + 8n
(3i + 2) = 3 i+ (2) = + 4n = = n(6n + 7)
2 2
i=1 i=1 i=1

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May/June 2017 Past Paper Question

h i2
Pn n(n+1) P2n+1
Given that the i=1 i
3 = 2 , show that the i=1 i 3 = (2n + 1)2 (n + 1)2 .

Solution

2n+1  2  2
X (2n + 1)(2n + 2) 2(2n + 1)(n + 1)
3
i = = = (2n + 1)2 (n + 1)2
2 2
i=1

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What is an Infinite Series ?

If hui i is a sequence
Pof real numbers then the sum u1 + u2 + u3 + · · · is called an infinite series
∞
and is denoted by i=1 (ui ).

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The p Series

P∞ 1


The series n=1 np is convergent when p > 1 and divergent when p ≤ 1.

This knowledge is important when solving some series problems in CAPE.

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May/June 2015 Past Paper Question

3 4 5
A series is given as 2 + 4 + 9 + 16 + ···

(i) Express the nth partial sum Sn of the series in sigma notation.
P∞ 1 π2


(ii) Hence, given that n=1 n2
converges to 6 , show that Sn diverges as n→ ∞.

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Solution to May/June 2015 Past Paper Question

(i) Solution
P∞ n+1


n=1 n2

(ii) Solution

∞  ∞  ∞  ∞   ∞  ∞  
π2
  X  X  X
X n+1 X n 1 1 1 1 X 1 1
= + = + = + = +
n2 n2 n2 n n2 n n2 n 6
n=1 n=1 n=1 n=1 n=1 n=1

P∞ 1


From the p series, we know that the n=1 np is divergent when p ≤ 1. In this case p = 1
for ∞
P 1

P∞ n+1

n=1 n =⇒ n=1 n 2 is divergent.

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Thank You For Your Participation

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