Simplifying Summations: Finding a Solution for a Tricky Problem

[KatieLynn]

Homework Statement

I'm trying to simplify a summation. I have something that looks like

<br /> <br /> \sum \sqrt{(1/4)(i)} (1/4)<br />Granted I might have made a mistake setting this up which would make my question irrelevant but anyway.

Homework Equations

there are equations for i, i squared and i cubed

The Attempt at a Solution

I don't think there's an equation for the square root of i, so can i square the whole problem to make it just i?

So it would be like...<br /> <br /> \sum \((1/4)(i)(1/16)<br />

 

[Tedjn]

What are you summing, and where is the i?

 

[KatieLynn]

I typed x instead of i, i just showed one part of the problem, i just want to know if you can just square the whole thing

 

[rootX]

does it work if u plug in numbers?

like 1+2+3+4 = 10 .. (edit: not 5) lol

It should not work (using my guessing power)

 

[Defennder]

Is 'i' the variable in the summand which goes from say i=0 to some i=N, or does it denote the square root of -1? I really don't get what you are summing up here. You said there's 'x', so where is it?

 

[Dick]

You definitely can't 'square it' in the way you are thinking about. You can approximate it pretty well if the upper limit is large. Maybe you should tell us what the actual problem is. As you said, this particular issue may be irrelevant.

 

[rootX]

from her comment: "there are equations for i, i squared and i cubed "

I think she wants a formula for i^0.5 ...

I don't think there's any

 

[Dick]

I don't think there is any either. That's why I suggested telling us the original problem. KatieLynn probably doesn't really need one.