Sigma 2

Mathematics Learning Centre
Sigma notation Jackie Nicholas
c 2005
University of Sydney
Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney
1
1.1
Sigma Notation
Understanding Sigma Notation
The symbol (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 ve children. We will denote their weights by x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 and x5 .
5
The sum of their weights x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5 is written more compactly as

j =1
xj .
The symbol means add up. Underneath we see j = 1 and on top of it 5. This means that j is replaced by whole numbers starting at the bottom number, 1, until the top number,5, is reached. Thus
5
xj = x2 + x 3 + x4 + x 5 ,
j =2
and
xj = x2 + x3 + x4 .
j =2 n
So the notation
j =1
xj tells us:
a. to add the scores xj , b. where to start: x1 , c. where to stop: xn (where n is some number). Now take the weights of the children to be x1 = 10kg, x2 = 12kg, x3 = 14kg, x4 = 8kg and x5 = 11kg. Then the total weight (in kilograms) is
5
xi = x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5
i=1
= 10 + 12 + 14 + 8 + 11 = 55. Notice that we have used i instead of j in the formula above. The j is what we call a dummy variable - any letter can be used, ie,
n n
xj =
j =1 i=1
xi .
Now let us nd
i=1
2xi where x1 = 2, x2 = 3, x3 = 2 and x4 = 1.
Again, starting with i = 1 we replace the expression 2xi with its value and add up the terms until i = 4 is reached. So,
2xi = 2x1 + 2x2 + 2x3 + 2x4

i=1
= 2(2) + 2(3) + 2(2) + 2(1) = 4+64+2 = 8.

3
Similarly, let us nd
k=1
(xk 4) where x1 = 7, x2 = 4, x3 = 1.
Here,
3 k=1
(xk 4) = (x1 4) + (x2 4) + (x3 4) = (7 4) + (4 4) + (1 4) = 3 + 0 + (3) = 0.

3
Notice that this is dierent from

k=1
xk 4 where x1 = 7, x2 = 4, x3 = 1.
In this case, we have,

3 k=1
xk 4 = x1 + x2 + x3 4 = 7+4+14 = 8.
We use brackets to indicate what should be included in the sum. In the previous example, there were no brackets, so the 4 was not included in the sum.
5
Example: Write out in full:

k=1 1 2 3 4
xk .
Solution: x + x + x + x + x5 . We also use sigma notation in the following way:

4
j 2 = 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 = 30.
j =1
This is the same principle: replace j in the expression (this time j 2 ) by whole numbers starting with 1 and ending with 4 , and add.
1.1.1
Exercises
4
1. Evaluate
i=1 n
xi where x1 = 5, x2 = 2, x3 = 3, x4 = 8. 5xk where x1 = 10, x2 = 14, x3 = 2, and n = 3.
2. Evaluate
k=1
1 5 3. Find = xj where the x1 = 10kg, x2 = 12kg, x3 = 14kg, x4 = 8kg and x5 = 11kg 5 j =1 are the weights of 5 children. ( is the mean weight of the children.)
3
4. Find the value of

i=1
(xi )2 where x1 = 105, x2 = 100, x3 = 95, and = 100.
1.2
Rules of summation
We will prove three rules of summation. These rules will allow us to evaluate formulae containing sigma notation more easily and allow us to derive equivalent formulae. Rule 1: If c is a constant, then
n n
cxi = c
i=1 i=1
xi .
To see why Rule 1 is true, lets start with the left hand side of this equation,
n i=1
cxi = cx1 + cx2 + cx3 + + cxn = c(x1 + x2 + x3 + + xn )

n
= c
i=1
xi
as required.
5 5 5
Suppose that
i=1
xi = 55 as in a previous example. Then

i=1
3xi = 3
i=1
xi = 3 55 = 165.
Rule 2: If c is a constant, then
c = nc.
i=1
This rule looks a bit strange as there is no xi . The left hand side of this formula means sum c, n times. That is,
n i=1 n
c = c + c + + c = nc = nc.

5
For example,
i=1
2 = 5 2 = 10.
Rule 3:
(xi + yi ) =
i=1 i=1
xi +
i=1
yi .
To prove this rule, lets start with the left hand side,
n i=1
(xi + yi ) = (x1 + y1 ) + (x2 + y2 ) + (x3 + y3 ) + + (xn + yn ) = (x1 + x2 + x3 + + xn ) + (y1 + y2 + y3 + + yn )

n n
=
i=1 7
xi +
i=1 7
yi .
n 7 7
For example, if
i=1
xi = 21 and
i=1
yi = 35 then
i=1
(xi + yi ) =
i=1
xi +
i=1
yi = 21 + 35 = 56.
1.2.1
Exercises
5 5 5
In the following exercises you may assume that

i=1 5 2 yi = 50 and i=1 i=1 5
xi = 37,
i=1
yi = 12,
i=1
x2 i = 303,
xi yi = 105.
Evaluate the following expressions:

5
1.
i=1 5
2yi xi 1 (xi 1)
5
2.
i=1 5
3.
i=1
4. (
i=1 5
xi )2 (2xi + yi )
5.
i=1 5
6.
i=1 5
(2xi + 3yi ) (2xi 5yi + 3) (xi 2yi )2
7.
i=1 5
8.
i=1
1.3
Using Sigma Notation in Statistics
Here are some examples of how sigma notation is used in statistics: The formula for a mean of a group of N scores, is = 1 N
N
xi .
i=1
A measure of how spread out the scores are, called the variance, has the following formula: 1 = N
2 N i=1
(xi )2 .
For example, the number of customers having lunch at a certain restaurant on 7 weekdays were x1 = 92, x2 = 84, x3 = 70, x4 = 76, x5 = 66, x6 = 80, x7 = 71. The mean is 1 N xi N i=1 1 = (92 + 84 + 70 + 76 + 66 + 80 + 71) 7 539 = 7 = 77.
Note: There are 7 scores so N = 7. The variance is 1 7 (xi 77)2 7 i=1 1 [(15)2 + (7)2 + (7)2 + (1)2 + (11)2 + (3)2 + (6)2 ] 7 1 [225 + 49 + 49 + 1 + 121 + 9 + 36] 7 1 [490] 7 70.
2 = = = = =
An alternative formula for variance is 1 N 2 = ( x i N 2 ) N i=1

2
For the above example we get: 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 [x + x2 2 + x3 + x4 + x5 + x6 + x7 N ] N 1 1 2 [92 + 842 + 702 + 762 + 662 + 802 + 712 7(77)2 ] 7 1 [8464 + 7056 + 4900 + 5776 + 4356 + 6400 + 5041 7(5929)] 7 1 [490] 7 70
2 = = = = =
as before. We can use the rules to show that two formulae for variance are equivalent, since
N i=1
(xi )2 =
N i=1
2 x2 i N .
N i=1
(xi )2 = =
N i=1 N i=1 N
2 (x2 i 2xi + ) N N
x2 i
2xi +
i=1 i=1 N
2 since is a constant since

N i=1
=
i=1 N
x2 i 2
x i + N 2
i=1
=
i=1 N
2 x2 i 2 N + N
xi = N
=
i=1
2 x2 i N
1.3.1
Exercises
1. Find the variance of the weights of the ve children (in Exercise 1.1.1 number 3), using each of the above formulae for 2 . 2. During a 5 week period, a salespersons weekly income (in dollars) was x1 = 400, x2 = 250, x3 = 175, x4 = 300, x5 = 375. Calculate =
1 5 5 i=1
xi and 2 = 1 ( 5
5 i=1
2 x2 i 5 ).
3. An insurance company is concerned about the length of time required to process claims. The length of time, measured in days, taken to process 7 claims produced the data x1 = 23, x2 = 20, x3 = 22, x4 = 25, x5 = 24, x6 = 23, x7 = 21. Evaluate the mean and variance 2 for these data.
1.4
Answers to Exercises
Answers to Exercise 1.1.1 1. 18 2. 110 3. 11kg 4. 50
Answers to Exercise 1.2.1

5 5
1.
i=1 5
2yi = 2
i=1
yi = 24
2.
i=1 5
xi 1 = 37 1 = 36 (xi 1) =
5 5 i=1
3.
i=1
xi
5 i=1
1 = 37 5(1) = 32
5
4. (
i=1 5
xi )2 = (37)2 = 1369
5 5
Note this is dierent from

i=1
x2 i = 303.
5.
i=1 5
(2xi + yi ) = 2
i=1 5
xi +
i=1
yi = 2(37) + 12 = 86
5
6.
i=1 5
(2xi + 3yi ) = 2
i=1
xi + 3
i=1 5 i=1
yi = 2(37) + 3(12) = 110

5 5
7.
i=1 5
(2xi 5yi + 3) = 2 (xi 2yi )2 =

5 i=1
xi 5
yi +
i=1 i=1 5
3 = 2(37) 5(12) + 5(3) = 29 x2 i 4

5 5 2 yi = 303 420 + 200 = 83
8.
i=1
2 (x2 i 4xi yi + 4yi ) =
xi yi + 4
i=1 i=1
i=1
Answers to Exercise 1.3.1 1. 2 = 4 2. = 300, 2 = 6750 3. = 22.57 to two decimal places, 2 = 2.53 taking the mean as 22.57 and using the formula 2 =
1 N (x N i=1 i
)2 .
1 2 2 2 If, however the formula 2 = N [N i=1 xi N ] is used, then the answer = 2.60 is obtained. This discrepancy is due to round o error and can be avoided by using = 22.571429 in the above formula.

Sigma 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sigma 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sigma 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mathematics Learning Centre

Sigma notation Jackie Nicholas

Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney

The sum of their weights x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5 is written more compactly as

2xi where x1 = 2, x2 = 3, x3 = 2 and x4 = 1.

Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney

2xi = 2x1 + 2x2 + 2x3 + 2x4

= 2(2) + 2(3) + 2(2) + 2(1) = 4+64+2 = 8.

(xk 4) = (x1 4) + (x2 4) + (x3 4) = (7 4) + (4 4) + (1 4) = 3 + 0 + (3) = 0.

Notice that this is dierent from

In this case, we have,

Example: Write out in full:

Solution: x + x + x + x + x5 . We also use sigma notation in the following way:

Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney

xi where x1 = 5, x2 = 2, x3 = 3, x4 = 8. 5xk where x1 = 10, x2 = 14, x3 = 2, and n = 3.

4. Find the value of

(xi )2 where x1 = 105, x2 = 100, x3 = 95, and = 100.

cxi = cx1 + cx2 + cx3 + + cxn = c(x1 + x2 + x3 + + xn )

xi = 55 as in a previous example. Then

Rule 2: If c is a constant, then

Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney

(xi + yi ) = (x1 + y1 ) + (x2 + y2 ) + (x3 + y3 ) + + (xn + yn ) = (x1 + x2 + x3 + + xn ) + (y1 + y2 + y3 + + yn )

In the following exercises you may assume that

Evaluate the following expressions:

(2xi + 3yi ) (2xi 5yi + 3) (xi 2yi )2

Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney

Using Sigma Notation in Statistics

An alternative formula for variance is 1 N 2 = ( x i N 2 ) N i=1

Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney

2 since is a constant since

Mathematics Learning Centre, University of Sydney

Answers to Exercise 1.1.1 1. 18 2. 110 3. 11kg 4. 50

Answers to Exercise 1.2.1

Note this is dierent from

yi = 2(37) + 3(12) = 110

(2xi 5yi + 3) = 2 (xi 2yi )2 =

3 = 2(37) 5(12) + 5(3) = 29 x2 i 4

2 (x2 i 4xi yi + 4yi ) =

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.