Search results
Sigma notation is a method used to write out a long sum in a concise way. In this unit we look at ways of using sigma notation, and establish some useful rules.
Introduction to sigma notation. Sigma notation is used as a convenient shorthand notation for the summation of terms. Example 1 : We write. 5. X n = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5: n=1. Here the symbol (sigma) indicates a sum.
The series of numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 ... is an example of a geometric sequence, sometimes called a geometric progression (GP). Each term in the progression is found by multiplying the previous number by 2. Such sequences occur in many situations; the multiplying factor does not have to be 2.
What is sigma notation? The symbol Σ is the capital Greek letter sigma – that's why it's called 'sigma notation'! 'Σ' stands for 'sum' – the expression to the right of the Σ tells you what is being summed, and the limits above and below tell you which terms you are summing.
Sigma notation uses a large sigma (a greek letter), with the limits on the index written above and below. What pronumeral represents the index is shown on the lower limit.
The symbol Σ (capital sigma) is often used as shorthand notation to indicate the sum of a number of similar terms. Sigma notation is used extensively in statistics. For example, suppose we weigh five children. We will denote their weights by x1, x2, x3, x4 and x5.
INTRODUCTION TO SIGMA NOTATION 1. The notation itself Sigma notation is a way of writing a sum of many terms, in a concise form. A sum in sigma notation looks something like this: X5 k=1 3k The Σ (sigma) indicates that a sum is being taken. The variable k is called the index of the sum. The numbers at the top and bottom
