A finite series is the sum of the terms of a finite sequence: if (an) is a sequence, a1+a2+⋯+an=∑k=1nak is the corresponding finite series (sometimes indexed to start from a0).
Sum of an AP. For Tn=a+(n−1)d,
Sn=na+2(n−1)nd=2n[2a+(n−1)d].
Sum of a GP. For Tn=arn−1 (r=1),
Sn=1−ra(1−rn);
if r=1 the GP is the constant sequence a,a,… and Sn=na. Equivalently 1+r+r2+⋯+rn−1=1−r1−rn for r=1.
Sum of an AGP. For Tn=(a+(n−1)d)rn−1 (r=1),
Sn=1−ra−(a+(n−1)d)rn+dr((1−r)21−rn−1).
This is derived the same way as the GP-sum formula: write Sn and rSn, subtract, and simplify the resulting mixed AP/GP remainder.
Telescopic summation. Many series that are not AP, GP or AGP can still be summed exactly if the kth term can be rewritten as a difference tk=f(k)−f(k+1) (often via rationalising a surd denominator, or a partial-fraction split). Then
∑k=1ntk=(f(1)−f(2))+(f(2)−f(3))+⋯+(f(n)−f(n+1))=f(1)−f(n+1), …