Problem 7: Sums & Series Art of Problem Solving

Problem: Find the value of

12 22 5002
+ + ... +
1·3 3·5 999 · 1001

Solution: We can express this in sigma notation:

500
X n2
(2n + 1)(2n − 1)
n=1

We now use a technique called Partial Fraction Decomposition. But before we can use PFD,
we need to get rid of the numerator. We can do this by expanding the denominator and then
using simple polynomial division. We get

n2 1 1/4
= +
(2n + 1)(2n − 1) 4 (2n + 1)(2n − 1)

The whole point is to make things telescope, and to do that, we use PFD:

1/4 A B A(2n − 1) + B(2n + 1)

= + =
(2n + 1)(2n − 1) 2n + 1 2n − 1 (2n + 1)(2n − 1)
Equating the numerators, we get
1
A(2n − 1) + B(2n + 1) = 2n(A + B) + (B − A) =
4
1
Since are no n terms on the RHS, A + B = 0. Then B − A = 4
−1 1
Solving, we get A = 8 and B = 8

Now we go back to our original sum:

500 500 500

X n2 X1 −1/8 1/8 X −1/8 1/8
= + + = 125 + +
(2n + 1)(2n − 1) 4 2n + 1 2n − 1 2n + 1 2n − 1
n=1 n=1 n=1

Looking at our new sum, we see all the terms will cancel out, or telescope, except for the
first one and the last one. So we have a final answer of

1/8 1/8 125250

125 + − =
1 1001 1001
.

Solution was written by Sean Soni and compiled from Art of Problem Solving Forums.