Thread:HMcCoy/@comment-4531415-20150518211336/@comment-24808864-20150519000002

Sigma notation is really nothing but an abbreviation for summing up large groups of numbers. In interest in space I will write three responses for three different purposes.

Evaluating a sum in sigma notation can be viewed as a four-step process:

1) Plug in the "bottom" number on the sigma into the rule and down the result

2) Add one to that number that you plugged in before, plug that into the rule and write down the result

3) Repeat step 2) untli you reach the "top" number on the sigma notation

4) add up all the results to get the final answer.