Visual Proof: The Sum of Important Mathematical Series

Proof: The sum of numbers from 1 to n 

According to the formula we all know, the sum of first n numbers is n(n+1)/2. In mathematical terms: 1 + 2 + …. + n = n(n+1)/2. But how do we get this value? Let’s understand this visually via the following image.

The sum of numbers from 1 to n visual proof

There is a popular story associated with the famous mathematician Gauss. In elementary school in the late 1700s, Gauss was asked to find the sum of the numbers from 1 to 100. The teacher assigned the question as basic project work, but Gauss found the answer quickly by discovering a pattern.

He noticed that if he split the numbers into two groups (1 to 50 and 51 to 100), he could add them together vertically to get a sum of 101.

  • 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + … + 48 + 49 + 50
  • 100 + 99 + 98 + 97 + 96 + … + 53 + 52 + 51

Gauss realized then that his final total would be 50* 101 = 5050.

Proof: The sum of infinite geometric series 1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + …

The sum of infinite geometric series visual proof

In a 1x1 square, we first cut the square in half, then cut one half in half (a quarter). Now we cut one of the quarters in half (an eighth), and so on. In such a way, we continue this process infinite times and fill up the whole square! There are two critical questions:

  • Instead of a square, can we think the same visual proof by representing a sequence in the form of a circle?
  • Can we think of a similar visual proof for the series 1/4 + 1/16 + 1/64…?

Proof: The sum of the squares of the first n numbers

The sum of the squares of the first n numbers visual proof

The first row of the first triangle is 1^2, the second-row sums to 2 + 2 = 2^2, the third-row sums to 3 + 3 + 3 = 3^2, and so on. That means that the sum of the numbers in the first triangle is 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + ... + n^2. 

The second triangle is just a 120-degree counterclockwise rotation of the first triangle. Similarly, the third triangle is a 120-degree clockwise rotation of the first triangle. In other words, the second and third triangles are the same as the first triangle. So, the sum of the numbers in the second and third triangle is also 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + ... + n^2.

The sum of the three triangles in left-hand side = 3 (1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + ... + n^2). On the right-hand side triangle, each number in the rows is the sum of each number in corresponding rows in all three triangles, which is equal to (2n+1). So the count of (2n + 1) in the right side triangle is 1 + 2 + 3 + .... + n, which is n(n + 1)2.

Both left, and right-hand sides are equal.
=> 3 (1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + ... + n^2) = (2n + 1)n(n + 1)
=> 1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 + ... + n^2 = n(n + 1) (2n + 1)/6

In case of any doubt or query, let us know your thoughts in the comment. Enjoy Mathematics.

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