Sum of the squares of the first n natural numbers

Renato Borseti

Pn n(n+1)(2n+1)
Proof that k=1 k2 = 6 .

First, remember that (a + b)3 = a3 + 3a2 b + 3ab2 + b3 , now lets apply in

(p + 1) where p can assume only natural numbers.

(p + 1)3 = p3 + 3p2 + 3p + 1

now let substitute the variable p for some natural number:

p=0⇒ (0 + 1)3 = 03 + 3 · 02 · 1 + 3 · 0 · 12 + 13 = 13
p=1⇒ (1 + 1)3 = 13 + 3 · 12 · 1 + 3 · 1 · 12 + 13 = 23
p=2⇒ (2 + 1)3 = 23 + 3 · 22 · 1 + 3 · 2 · 12 + 13 = 33
..
.
p = n ⇒ (n + 1)3 = n3 + 3n2 + 3n + 13 = (n + 1)3
Now let’s separate the equations like columns, like this figure:

03 + 3 · 02 + 3·0 + 1 = 13
1 3 + 3 · 12 + 3·1 + 1 = 23
23 + 3 · 22 + 3·2 + 1 = 33
33 + 3 · 32 + 3·3 + 1 = 43
.. .. .. ..
. . . .. .
.
n3 + 3 · n2 + 3·n + 1 = (n + 1)3

Let’s sum all terms of the first column:

1 3 + 2 3 + 3 3 + . . . + n3

Sum all terms of the second column:

3 · 12 + 3 · 22 + 3 · 32 + . . . + 3 · n2 = 3 · (12 + 22 + . . . + n2 )

The 3rd column:

3 · 0 + 3 · 1 + 3 · 2 + . . . + 3 · n = 3 · (1 + 2 + . . . + n)

The 4th column:

1 + 1 + 1 + ...+ 1 = n + 1

1
The 5th column:

13 + 23 + 33 + . . . + n3 + (n + 1)3

Now, we will sum all and equalize with the sum of 5th column:
(13 + 23 + . . . + n3 ) + 3 · (12 + 22 + . . . + n2 ) + 3 · (1 + 2 + . . . + n) + (n + 1) = 13 + 23 + . . . + n3 + (n + 1)3

Note that we can cancel the first term with the terms of the right side of equal
signal:

3 · (12 + 22 + . . . + n2 ) + 3 · (1 + 2 + . . . + n) + (n + 1) = (n + 1)3

How we want know the sum of 12 + 22 + . . . + n2 , let call this term of S:

3S + 3 · (1 + 2 + . . . + n) + (n + 1) = (n + 1)3

We know that
n2 + n n(n + 1)
1 + 2 + 3 + ...+ n = =
2 2
Then
n(n + 1)
3S + 3 · ( ) + (n + 1) = (n + 1)3
2
Let multiply by 2 in both side of equality for remove the fraction:

6S + 3 · (n(n + 1)) + 2 · (n + 1) = 2 · (n + 1)3

Isolating S in equation we have:

6S = 2 · (n + 1)3 − 3 · (n(n + 1)) − 2 · (n + 1)

Put the term (n + 1) in evidence:

6S = (n + 1) · (2(n + 1)2 − 2 − 3n)

6S = (n + 1) · (2(n2 + 2n + 1) − 2 − 3n)
6S = (n + 1) · (2n2 + 4n + 2 − 2 − 3n)
6S = (n + 1) · (2n2 + n)
6S = (n + 1) · n(2n + 1)

Dividing both side of equality by 6 we have:

n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
S= 
6