Data Science Math Skills

Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger

Duke University

Sigma Notation: Simplification Rules

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1 Distributive property
Examples:
4
X
i2 = 30
i=1
4
X
3i2 = 3(1)2 + 3(2)2 + 3(3)2 + 3(4)2
i=1
= 3[12 + 22 + 32 + 42 ]
" 4 #
X
=3 i2
i=1

25
" 25
#
X X
18r3 = 18 r3
r=4 r=4

This is due to the distributive property:

a(b + c) = ab + ac

In other words, constants inside the summed expression can be pulled outside.

1
 Data Science Math Skills
Paul Bendich and Daniel Egger
Duke University

2 Commutative property

4
X
(i2 + 2i) = 12 + 2(1) + 22 + 2(2) + 32 + 2(3) + 42 + 2(4)





i=1
= 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 + (2(1) + 2(2) + 2(3) + 2(4))

4
! 4
!
X X
= i2 + 2i
i=1 i=1

This is due to the commutative property:

a+b=b+a

In other words, we can add the terms in any order.

3 Summation of constants
Examples:
10
X
5=5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5
k=1
= 10 · 5
= 50

7
X
8=8+8+8+8+8+8+8
r=1
=7·8
= 56

When summing constants, you can multiply the constant by the number of indices you count.