Problem 79 - Algebra and Trigonometry

Question

What is the meaning of the symbol \(\Sigma ?\) Give an example with your description.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The symbol \(\Sigma\) stands for summation in mathematics, it represents the addition of a sequence of numbers. An example would be \(\Sigma_{i=1}^{4} i = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10\).

Step 1: Define the symbol

The symbol \(\Sigma\) is the uppercase Greek letter Sigma. In mathematics, \(\Sigma\) is commonly used to denote a summation, meaning the addition of a sequence of numbers.

Step 2: Provide an example

An example of this could be the sum of the first four terms of a series: \(\Sigma_{i=1}^{4} i\), which stands for the summation of values from \(i = 1\) to \(i = 4\). In this case, that would be: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10.