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1995 Paper 1 Q3
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0
sequences telescoping sum summation cube numbers method of differences alternating series polynomial identity

  1. If \(\mathrm{f}(r)\) is a function defined for \(r=0,1,2,3,\ldots,\) show that \[ \sum_{r=1}^{n}\left\{ \mathrm{f}(r)-\mathrm{f}(r-1)\right\} =\mathrm{f}(n)-\mathrm{f}(0). \]
  2. If \(\mathrm{f}(r)=r^{2}(r+1)^{2},\) evaluate \(\mathrm{f}(r)-\mathrm{f}(r-1)\) and hence determine \({\displaystyle \sum_{r=1}^{n}r^{3}.}\)
  3. Find the sum of the series \(1^{3}-2^{3}+3^{3}-4^{3}+\cdots+(2n+1)^{3}.\)

Solution:

  1. \(\,\) \begin{align*} && \sum_{r=1}^n \left (f(r) - f(r-1) \right) &= \cancel{f(1)} - f(0) + \cdots\\ &&&\quad\, \cancel{\f(2)}-\cancel{f(1)} + \cdots \\ &&&\quad\, \cancel{f(3)}-\cancel{f(2)} + \cdots \\ &&&\quad\, +\cdots + \cdots \\ &&&\quad\, \cancel{f(n-1)}-\cancel{f(n-2)} + \cdots \\ &&&\quad\, f(n)-\cancel{f(n-1)} \\ &&&=f(n) - f(0) \end{align*}
  2. If \(f(r) = r^2(r+1)^2\) then \begin{align*} && f(r) - f(r-1) &= r^2(r+1)^2 - (r-1)r^2 \\ &&&= r^2((r+1)^2-(r-1)^2) \\ &&&=4r^3 \end{align*} Therefore \begin{align*} && \sum_{r=1}^n 4r^3 &= n^2(n+1)^2-0 \\ \Rightarrow && \sum_{r=1}^n r^3 &= \frac{n^2(n+1)^2}{4} \\ \end{align*}
  3. So \begin{align*} && \sum_{r=1}^{2n+1} (-1)^{r-1}r^3 &= \sum_{r=1}^{2n+1} r^3 - 2 \sum_{r=1}^n (2r)^3 \\ &&&= \frac14(2n+1)^2(2n+2)^2 - 8 \frac{n^2(n+1)^2}{4} \\ &&&= (2n+1)^2(n+1)^2 - 2n^2(n+1)^2 \\ &&&= (n+1)^2(4n^2+4n+1 - 2n^2) \\ &&&= (n+1)^2(2n^2+4n+1) \end{align*}

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