FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

The Method of Differences

The method of differences is a sneaky trick whereby the sum of a series is

established under certain conditions, and a great deal of cancelling out of terms
contributes to a rather slick method.
THE METHOD OF DIFFERENCES can be applied to find the sum of a series so
long as the general term in the series can be expressed in the form

f (k + 1) f (k )

where f( ) is some function.

This is particularly useful when the general term of the series is that of an
ALGEBRAIC FRACTION that can be split into the DIFFERENCE of two fractions
by the method of PARTIAL FRACTIONS.

EXAMPLE 1
n

FIND

r =3 ( r + 1)( r + 2)

by first expressing the sum in PARTIAL

FRACTIONS.
Using Partial Fractions let

1
A
B

+
( r + 1)(r + 2) (r + 1) (r + 2)
1
A( r + 2) + B ( r + 1)

( r + 1)( r + 2)
( r + 1)( r + 2)

1 A( r + 2) + B ( r + 1)
Let r=-1
1=A(-1+2)
A=1

Let r=-2
1=B(-2+1)
B=-1

1
1
1

( r + 1)( r + 2) ( r + 1) ( r + 2)
MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

APPLYING THE METHOD OF DIFFERENCES JUST MEANS SUBSTITUTING

THE VALUES FOR r AND SUMMING (NICE THINGS HAPPEN IN CANCELLING)
1
1
1

now summing from r=3 to r=n

( r + 1)( r + 2) ( r + 1) ( r + 2)

1
1
1
1 1

(r + 1)(r + 2) (r + 1) (r + 2) 4 5
1 1
+
5 6
1 1
+
6 7
+ ..........
+ ..........
1
1
+
n n +1
1
1
+

n +1 n + 2

The example has listed the Sum

vertically for convienience but
horizontally is fine so long as
brackets are effectively used.
NOTICE THAT MANY PARTS
OF THE SUM WILL CANCEL
OUT. THIS IS THE TRICK
INVOLVED IN THE METHOD
OF DIFFERENCES

The sum becomes (after cancelling of terms with opposite signs)

n

1
1
1
=

4 (n + 2)
r =3 ( r + 1)( r + 2)
This can be expressed as a single fraction as:

1
1( n + 2) 4
=

4(n + 2)
r =3 ( r + 1)( r + 2)
n2
=
4(n + 2)
n

This is the sum as a single fraction

MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

EXAMPLE 2
n

Find

r =1 r ( r + 2)

Using Partial Fractions let

1
A
B
+
r ( r + 2) r ( r + 2)
1
A( r + 2) + Br

r ( r + 2)
r ( r + 2)

1 A( r + 2) + Br
let r=-2
1=B(-2)
B=

1
2

Let r=0
1=A(2)
A=

1
2

1
1
1

r ( r + 2) 2r 2( r + 2)
Now sum from r=1 to n and look for terms that cancel (You will have to look a little
harder this time!)
First we will take the half out as a common factor to make things easier

1
1
1
1 1
1

(
)
r (r + 2) 2r 2(r + 2) 2 r (r + 2)

MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

1
1 1
1
1 1 1
) (
(
2 1 3
r (r + 2) 2 r (r + 2)
1 1
+
2 4
1 1
+
3 5
1 1
+
4 6
+ ..........
+ ..........

This time there is a

jump of TWO before we
see the fractions cancel.
This leaves us with
TWO at the start and
TWO at the end.

1
1

n2 n
1
1
+

n 1 n +1
1
1
)
+
n n+2
+

1
1 1
1
1 1 1
1
1
(
) ( +

)
r (r + 2) 2 r (r + 2)
2 1 2 n +1 n + 2
The TWO at
the start

The TWO at
the end

Finally Simplifying and multiplying the half:

1
3
2n + 3

r (r + 2) 4 2( n + 1)( n + 2)
MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

EXAMPLE 3
n

Find

r =1 r ( r + 1)

MRS S RICHARDS

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

1997 OLD P4
Show that

1
1
2

r (r + 1) (r + 1)(r + 2) r (r + 1)(r + 2)
Hence , or otherwise find a simplified expression for
n

r (r + 1)(r + 2)
r =1

(NOTE: Thre is no need for Partial Fractions as we must show the difference
between the two fractions is the SINGLE fraction given. Partial fractions
would be needed if working the other way around. ie show that the single
fraction can be written as the difference between the two fractions.)

MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

These questions are not as frequently examined as some topics but

be aware of them! (2008 Jan was the last time)
P4 Modular 2004 (7 marks)
Show that

1
1
1
1
3
(2n + 3)
+
+
+ ........ +
=
1 3 2 4 3 5
n(n 2) 4 2(n + 1)(n + 2)

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THIS IS EXAMPLE 2 BUT WITHOUT THE SIGMA
NOTATION

MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

1999 OLD P4 MODULAR (5 marks)

2
Express

4r 2 1 in partial fractions.

Show that
n

4r
r =1

2
2

2n
2n + 1

NOTICE THAT WE HAVE THE DIOFFERENCE OF TWO SQUARES ON THE DENOMINATOR

SIMILAR QUESTION TO 2008 JAN!

MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

USING THE METHOD OF DIFFERENCES TO PROVE THE STANDARD

FORMULAE IN THE FORMULAE BOOKLET
The following results are all found in the formula booklet of the WJEC
examinations but can all be proved bt using THE METHOD OF DIFFERENCES
n

r 2 (n + 1)
r =1

r
r =1

n
(n + 1)(2n + 1)
6

n2
r (n + 1) 2

4
r =1
n

These can all been proved by using the METHOD OF DIFFERENCES.

The method of differences can only be used if the series can be expressed as
f (r + 1) f (r ) or equivalent.
To find the sum of the natural numbers we used the fact

(k + 1) 2 k 2 2k + 1
These are the SAME function
Ie (....) 2 .
The value of the variable in the first is one more
than the value of the variable in the second.
We are finding the DIFFERENCE.

To find the sum of the squares of the positive integers we used the fact that

( k + 1)3 k 3 3k 2 + 3k +1

These are the SAME function

Ie (....)3 .
The value of the variable in the first is one more
than the value of the variable in the second.
We are finding the DIFFERENCE.

MRS S RICHARDS

FURTHER PURE MATHEMATICS (FP1)

SUMMING SERIES BY THE DIFFERENCE METHOD

The same applied to the sum of the cubes of the positive integers when we
used the fact that

(k + 1) 4 k 4 4k 3 + 6k 2 + 4k + 1
The process involved substituting n=1,2,3,.(n-1),n into both sides of the
DIFFERENCE EQUATION. Then they were SUMMED, resulting in some
convenient cancelling and an equation that could be rearranged to obtain the
desired sum.

MRS S RICHARDS