M HYPE SPLASH
// updates

Factorial, but with addition [duplicate]

By Michael Henderson
$\begingroup$

Is there a notation for addition form of factorial?

$$5! = 5\times4\times3\times2\times1$$

That's pretty obvious. But I'm wondering what I'd need to use to describe

$$5+4+3+2+1$$

like the factorial $5!$ way.

EDIT: I know about the formula. I want to know if there's a short notation.

$\endgroup$ 11

4 Answers

$\begingroup$

It is called the $n$th triangle number and it can be written as $\binom{n+1}2$, as a binomial coefficient.

$\endgroup$ 10 $\begingroup$

That can be done with the formula $\frac{n^2+n}{2}$

$\endgroup$ 3 $\begingroup$

We should also note that the factorial function has a similar look to it as the sigma summation notation; as $$\frac{n(n+1)}{2}=1+2+3+...+n=\sum_{k=1}^nk$$ $$n!=1 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdot ... \cdot n=\prod_{k=1}^nk$$

$\endgroup$ $\begingroup$

$\sum_{n=1}^{k} n = 1 +2+3+\ldots+k$. Is a nice notation for it. So $$1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = \sum_{n=1}^{5} n$$.

$\endgroup$