Syntax for a series summation (Sigma)

  • Thread starter Thread starter upshaw211
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upshaw211

I need to find out how to input a series summation in Excel, similar t
Sigma notation.

The formula I need to input is [(x*C)^i]/factorial(i) From (i=0) t
(i=x-1) and where C is a constant.

The length of the series depends on the value of x, but x is a variabl
which can be assigned different values, so I cannot simply write out th
whole formula based on a certain value of x.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks
 
two ways to do it - first would be a macro - fairly simple. here i
another way

x in cell b3
C in cell b4
i values in column 0 in a8
=IF(A8+1<$B$3,A8+1,0) in a9
=IF(A9=0,0,IF(A9+1<$B$3,A9+1,0)) in a10 to as far as you need to excee
x rows

in cell b8
=$B$3*$B$4^A8/FACT(A8)
in cell b9 to as far as you put in eqs in column a
=IF(A9=0,0,$B$3*$B$4^A9/FACT(A9))

in cell c8 and as far as eqs in column a and b
=SUM($B$8:B8)

the result will be the max of column
 
need some parenthesis

in cell b8
=($B$3*$B$4)^A8/FACT(A8)
in cell b9 to as far as you put in eqs in column a
=IF(A9=0,0,($B$3*$B$4)^A9/FACT(A9)
 
If "x" is an integer, would this work? Here, I use two range names (x, c_)

= (EXP(c_ * x) * EXP(GAMMALN(x)) * (1 - GAMMADIST(c_ * x, x, 1, TRUE))) /
FACT(x - 1)

May not be the best idea, but it may work for your situation.

HTH
 
Hi!

Maybe back to first principles.

The sequence you are summing looks like the sum of Ui from i= 0 to i
x-1 where Ui+1 = Ui*C*x/(i+1).

U0 by convention is 1.

Put 1 in A1

Put a value for C in A7 and a value for x in A8 (arbitrarily chosen).

Put =A1*$A$7*$A$8/(COLUMN()-1) in B1.

Copy this across as far as you like (which is at least as far as
columns)
I appreciate x is not fixed, but convergence will suggest a suitabl
maximum number of terms for the series. Trial and error...

Now put in A2 = sum (A1:M1) (or more than M if you are going to suc
lengths).

Al
 
Oops. Didn't see this. For an approximation, if I use 'k' instead of C,
and keep k relatively small, then a slightly shorter version might be

=(EXP(k*x)*(1-GAMMADIST(k*x,x,1,TRUE)))

Using Myrna's excellent idea for a reference with k=3, and x=10, I get
76,106,409.66

This is close to Myrna's more exact value of
76,106,409.57

I would use Myrna's excellent idea as this is only an approximate value as
long as k is relatively small. (Microsoft did not update some important
functions still in Excel 2003) :>(

Anyway, HTH.
--
Dana DeLouis
Win XP & Office 2003

Dana DeLouis said:
If "x" is an integer, would this work? Here, I use two range names (x,
c_)

= (EXP(c_ * x) * EXP(GAMMALN(x)) * (1 - GAMMADIST(c_ * x, x, 1, TRUE))) /
FACT(x - 1)

May not be the best idea, but it may work for your situation.

HTH
--
Dana DeLouis
Win XP & Office 2003


upshaw211 said:
I need to find out how to input a series summation in Excel, similar to
Sigma notation.

The formula I need to input is [(x*C)^i]/factorial(i) From (i=0) to
(i=x-1) and where C is a constant.

The length of the series depends on the value of x, but x is a variable
which can be assigned different values, so I cannot simply write out the
whole formula based on a certain value of x.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.
 
Hi!

It would be good to know from the OP whether s/he is interested i
convergent or divergent series. Maybe even a preferred range for x an
C.

Al
 
Hi, Dana:

I don't know if he'll ever see the array formulas. I posted these in response
to his duplicate post in worksheet.functions....

Myrna Larson
 

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