MATH LECTURE 4.

1
SUMMATION PROCESS using SIGMA NOTATION
The study of statistics involves the collection of data or measurement. Thus, there is always a need to add several
numbers. The Greek capital letter sigma, 𝜮 is used in the process. The symbol 𝚺, read as “the sum” of tells you to
add certain numerical values.

SIGMA NOTATION
where:
𝑛 𝛴 signifies summation process.
∑𝑥 𝑥 expressions to be sum up.
𝑖 𝑖 lower limits (or value)
𝑛 upper limits (or value)

Illustrative Examples:
1. ∑51(𝑥) = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5
= 𝟏𝟓
2. ∑62(𝑥 2 ) = 22 + 32 + 42 + 52 + 62
= 4 + 9 + 16 + 25 + 36
= 𝟗𝟎
3. ∑81(5) = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5
= 𝟒𝟎

Sigma Notation is used to shorten the summation expression of sequence, whether Arithmetic or Geometric.

Illustrative Examples:
Express the sum of numbers in Sigma Notation.
1. 1 + 2 + 3 + ⋯ + 98 + 99 + 100
let 𝒙 represents 1, 2, 3, 4, …, 98, 99, and 100, where 1 is the lower limit (𝑖 = 1) and 100 the upper limit (𝑛 = 100).
Since the expression show an increment of 1 (or each term is increasing by 1), therefore,
100 𝟏𝟎𝟎
∑ 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 + ⋯ + 𝑥98 + 𝑥99 + 𝑥100 = ∑ 𝒙
1 𝟏

2. 3 + 5 + 7 + 9
There are FOUR TERMS in the expression. Let 𝒙 represents 1, 2, 3, and 4, where 1 is the lower limit (𝑖 = 1) and 4
the upper limit (𝑛 = 4), the pattern shows an increment of 2 for each term and all terms are ODD numbers,
therefore,
4
∑ (2𝑥 + 1)
1

3. 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32
There are FIVE TERMS in the expression. Let 𝒙 represents 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, where 1 is the lower limit (𝑖 = 1) and 5
the upper limit (𝑛 = 5), the pattern shows an exponential increase of each term and the first term is 2, therefore,
5
∑ 2𝑥
1

4. Consider the scores obtained by 10 students in a 50-items mathematics test.

For convenience, variables will be used to present the data.
Student No. Score Let 𝑥 = score obtained by each student
1 35 𝑥𝑖 = different values or observations of 𝑥
2 40
3 29 𝑥𝑖 is read as “𝑥 sub 𝑖” where 𝑖 is a subscript which indicates the position of each
4 37 value in the series.
5 25 In the given data, there are 10 observations denoted as
6 33
𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , 𝑥3 , 𝑥4 , 𝑥5 , 𝑥6 , 𝑥7 , 𝑥8 , 𝑥9 , 𝑥10 .
7 49
8 47 Hence,
10
9 28
10 42 ∑ 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 + 𝑥4 + 𝑥5 + 𝑥6 + 𝑥7 + 𝑥8 + 𝑥9 + 𝑥10
𝑖=1
 The symbol
10

∑ 𝑥𝑖
𝑖=1

is read as “the sum of 10 observations 𝑥1 to 𝑥10 ”. To substitute the data:

10

∑ 𝑥𝑖 = 35 + 40 + 29 + 37 + 25 + 33 + 49 + 47 + 28 + 42 = 𝟑𝟔𝟓
𝑖=1

5. Given are the ages of the first 4 shoppers at a newly opened convenience store in the neighborhood.
12, 24, 30, 45.
Guide Questions:
a. What will 𝒙 represent in the information given?
Answer: 𝒙 will represent the ages of the first 4 shoppers in the newly opened convenience
store.
b. What will the subscript 𝒊 represent?
Answer: 𝒊 will represent the first 4 shoppers in the newly opened convenience store
c. Write an expression for the sum.
Answer: ∑41 𝑥𝑖
d. What are the lower and upper limits of the expression?
Answer: The lower limit is 1 and the upper limit is 4.
e. Write the formula for the summation and find the sum of the given information.
Answer: ∑41 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 + 𝑥4
= 12 + 24 + 30 + 45
= 𝟏𝟏𝟏
This time, consider 5 observations. If the sum of five observations is written as:
5

∑ 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 + 𝑥4 + 𝑥5
1
the sum of the squares of the five observations is represented as:
5

∑ 𝑥𝑖2 = 𝑥12 + 𝑥22 + 𝑥32 + 𝑥42 + 𝑥52

1

the sum of the products of pairs of five observations is expressed as:

5

∑ 𝑎𝑖 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑎1 𝑥1 + 𝑎2 𝑥2 + 𝑎3 𝑥3 + 𝑎4 𝑥4 + 𝑎5 𝑥5
1
5

∑ 𝑎𝑖 𝑥𝑖 = (1)𝑥1 + (2)𝑥2 + (3)𝑥3 + (4)𝑥4 + (5)𝑥5

1

END OF MATH LECTURE 4.1