Question

Use a sentence to describe what the notation $\sum _{k=3}^{87}{k}^2$means. (Hint: Start with “The sum of....”)

Short answer

The sum of squares of 3 to 87.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given Information:

Given sigma notation: $\sum _{k=3}^{87}{k}^2$

Use a sentence we want to describe what the notation means.

Step 2. Solution:

First we write notation in expand form we get

$\sum _{k=3}^{87}{k}^2=3^2+4^2+5^2+.....+{87}^2$

We observe that given notation represents:

The sum of squares of 3 to 87.