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Topic 1
Summation and Factorial Notations, Data Types, Data Collection

Summation Notation is a simple way to write the sum of a finite number of terms in a sequence.
It is also called Sigma Notation since it uses the Greek letter sigma, ∑.

Let X be a variable with values denoted by 𝑥𝑖 where 𝑥1 is the 1𝑠𝑡 value, 𝑥2 is the 2𝑛𝑑 value and
so on. Consequently, 𝑥𝑛 is the 𝑛𝑡ℎ or the last value in the sequence. The sum of these values can
be summarized as

that is,

where 𝒊 (or any letter) is the index of summation, 𝟏 is the starting point and 𝒏 is the stopping
point, ∑ is the summation sign and 𝑥𝑖 is the 𝑖 𝑡ℎ value in the sequence. The three dots indicate
that there are values between 𝑥3 and 𝑥𝑛 . This summation can also be written as

∑𝒏𝒊=𝟏 𝒙𝒊

Some Summations and Expansions

In words: The summation of the values xi starting with i=1 and ending with i=10

In words: The summation of the values xi starting with i=5 and ending with i=9.

In words: The square of the summation of the values xi starting with i=2 and ending with i=4

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In words: The summation of the sum of the values 𝑥𝑖 and 𝑦𝑖 starting with 𝑖 = 5 and ending with
𝑖=7

In words: The summation of the sum of the values 𝑥𝑖 and 𝑦𝑖 starting with 𝑖 = 5 and ending with
𝑖=7

In words: The summation of the product of the values 𝑦𝑖 and 𝑧𝑖 starting with 𝑖 = 1 and ending
with 𝑖 = 3

In words: The summation of the quotient of the values 𝑥𝑖 and 𝑧𝑖 starting with 𝑖 = 2 and ending
with 𝑖 = 4.

(Take note that the denominator 𝑧𝑖 should not equal to 0.)

Suppose c and n are any constants.

In words: The summation of the product of 𝒄 and 𝑥𝑖 starting with 𝑖 = 1 and ending with 𝑖 = 7

In words: The summation of 𝒄 starting with 𝑖 = 1 and ending with 𝒏 is

Example:

A simple formula to find the summation of c starting with m and ending with n

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Example 1: → 𝑚 = 1, 𝑛 = 5

Example 2: → 𝑚 = 2, 𝑛 = 5

Reminder on Expansions: Start replacing 𝒊 with the starting point up to the stopping point and
only where 𝒊 is located (may it be a subscript, superscript, coefficient,…). Also, sum the values
that are immediately to the right of the summation sign.

Writing an Expansion as a Single Summation

The essence of summation notation is to be able to write an expansion into a single summation.

𝟖𝟗

𝒙𝟐𝟏 + 𝒙𝟑𝟐 + ⋯+ 𝒙𝟗𝟎

𝟖𝟗 = ∑ 𝒙𝒊+𝟏
𝒊
𝒊=𝟏
𝟏𝟎

𝒚𝟐𝟏 + 𝒚𝟒𝟐 + 𝒚𝟔𝟑 +⋯+ 𝒚𝟐𝟎

𝟏𝟎 = ∑ 𝒚𝟐𝒊
𝒊
𝒊=𝟏

𝟏𝟎𝟎

𝟏 + 𝟐𝟏 + 𝟐𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝟐𝟏𝟎𝟎 = ∑ 𝟐𝒋
𝒋=𝟎

Factorial Notation

Let 𝒏 ≥ 𝟎. The factorial of 𝒏 is denoted as 𝒏! where 𝒏! = 𝒏 ∗ (𝒏 − 𝟏) ∗ (𝒏 − 𝟐) ∗ … ∗ 𝟑 ∗ 𝟐 ∗ 𝟏.

Take note that 𝟎! = 𝟏.

Example:

𝟓! = 𝟓 ∗ 𝟒 ∗ 𝟑 ∗ 𝟐 ∗ 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎

(𝟏𝟐 − 𝟐)! = 𝟏𝟎! = 𝟏𝟎 ∗ 𝟗 ∗ 𝟖 ∗ 𝟕 ∗ 𝟔 ∗ 𝟓 ∗ 𝟒 ∗ 𝟑 ∗ 𝟐 ∗ 𝟏 = 𝟑, 𝟔𝟐𝟖, 𝟖𝟎𝟎

𝟔! 𝟔∗𝟓∗𝟒∗𝟑∗𝟐∗𝟏 𝟔! 𝟔∗𝟓∗𝟒∗𝟑!
= = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 or = = 𝟏𝟐𝟎
𝟑! 𝟑∗𝟐∗𝟏 𝟑! 𝟑!

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Test your skills. Expand the following summations. Simplify if possible.

𝟓𝟎
𝒙𝒊
1. ∑ =
𝟓
𝒊=𝟏
𝟏𝟎

2. ∑(𝟑! − 𝒋) =
𝒋=𝟒
𝟏𝟎

3. ∑ 𝟑! − 𝒋 =
𝒋=𝟒
𝟓 𝟓
4. (𝟒! ∑ 𝒘𝒊 ) (𝟓! ∑ 𝒔𝒊 ) =
𝒊=𝟏 𝒋=𝟏

Test your skills. Write each expansion as a single summation.

1. 𝒙𝟑 𝒚𝟑 + 𝒙𝟓 𝒚𝟓 + 𝒙𝟕 𝒚𝟕 + ⋯ + 𝒙𝟏𝟓 𝒚𝟏𝟓 =

2. 𝟏 + 𝟐 + 𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝟏𝟎 =

3. 𝒎𝟏 𝒎𝟐 𝒎𝟑 𝒎𝟓𝟎
+ + +⋯+ =
𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎
(𝒎𝟏 − 𝟒. 𝟓)𝟐 (𝒎𝟐 − 𝟒. 𝟓)𝟐 (𝒎𝟑 − 𝟒. 𝟓)𝟐 (𝒎𝟓𝟎 − 𝟒. 𝟓)𝟐
4. + + + ⋯+ =
𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎

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Test your skills.

Given:
i 1 2 3 4 5
𝑥𝑖 0 −2 5 7 0
𝑦𝑖 1 2 2 1 5
𝑧𝑖 0 1 1 −1 4

Evaluate the following.

𝟓
𝒙𝒊
1. 𝟓! ∑ =
𝒚𝒊
𝒊=𝟏
5

2. ∑ 𝟔! (𝒚𝒊 − 𝒊) =
𝑖=1
𝟓
𝒙 𝒊 𝒚𝒊
3. ∑ =
𝟑! 𝒛𝒊
𝒊=𝟏
𝟑 𝟒 𝟓

4. ∑ 𝒙 𝒊 + ∑ 𝒚𝒊 + ∑ 𝒛 𝒊 =
𝒊=𝟏 𝟐 𝟑

∑𝟓𝒊=𝟏 𝒙𝟏
5. =
∑𝟓𝒊=𝟐 𝒚𝟐

𝟑!
6. =
𝟗!

𝟗!
7. =
𝟑! (𝟗 − 𝟑)!

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Statistics is a science that deals with the methods of collection, organization, presentation,
analysis, and interpretation of data. It is widely used in research in biology, medicine and its allied
sciences, agriculture, psychology, and other fields. A statistic (plural: statistics) is a value obtained
from computation using data from a sample. A sample is a portion of a population. Think of a
slice of cake. The slice is the sample and the whole cake is the population. If the batter is
thoroughly mixed and baked, then the slice represents the whole cake. Data are simply facts or
information collected from sources using some methods. When raw data are simply collected but
never undergo some statistical processes, they will remain as data. Statistics transform these raw
data into usable information which is a form of evidence which in turn is a basis for decision
making. This the reason why statistics is applied in many fields – a sound decision is based on
evidence/s.

There are two basic types of statistics. Descriptive Statistics pertains to describing a set of data
by means of graphs, tables, and numerical summaries. It does not go beyond description.
Examples of statements/questions pertaining to descriptive statistics are:

• One result of a BS Biology thesis found out that 25% her lab rats are resistant to the treatment
• The average number of students per class in a university is 45.
• A survey reported that 22% of the residents in a certain town agreed to have a Quarantine
Facility for COVID19 to be constructed in their town.
• According to a poll survey in a certain community, the favorite pet cat of choice of households
is a Ragdoll cat.
• What is the average Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of First Year BS Biology students at the University
of Southern Mindanao-Main Campus who are enrolled during the 2nd Semester, SY 2021-2022?

Inferential statistics, on the other hand, attempts to make generalizations on a bigger set of data
(population) using only a small portion of that population (sample). Examples are

• A new paracetamol brand will be 90% better in relieving pain compared to other brands.
• With the surge of the new COVID19 cases, it is predicted that people will use face masks longer
than usual.
• Male students of BS Biology have more retentive memories compared to female students.
• Being Male or Female has no bearing on the choice of enrolling in BS Biology.

Regardless of the types, data are involved. It is because data are the basic units of statistics. And
data are collected using some methods.

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Three methods of data collection

1. Objective method – If you are the data collector, you collect the data through measurement,
counting, and observation.

2. Subjective method – If you are the data collector, you get the data from respondents through
questionnaires, poll surveys, and interviews. The respondents provide the data.

3. Use of published materials – If you are the data collector, you collect the data from journals,
books, almanacs, etc. The data are already collected by previous collectors – you simply lift
the data from their collection.

Two categories of data based on the manner they are collected:

Objective method Use of published

Subjective method materials

Primary Data Secondary Data

Two types of data

Data

Quantitative Qualitative
Numerical Descriptive

Discrete Continuous
Countable Measurable
Example: Example:
50 cats 36.50 Celcius
2 children 62 kilograms

A variable is a characteristic which can be obtained, measured, or observed from one entity to
another. For example, in a classroom, the instructor can ask each student his or her blood type
and different answers will be given by the students. The variable is blood type of student that
can generate different data values (A,B, AB, O, A, A , O, AB, A,B, B, AB,…). Note that quantitative
variables produce quantitative data values and qualitative variables produce qualitative data
values.
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Levels of measurement of variables (scales of measurement) refers to the relationship between

the numeric values of a variable and the characteristics that those numbers represent. There are
four levels of measurement: Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio where Nominal is the lowest
level and Ratio is the highest level.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsummer-heart-0930.chufeiyun1688.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F3f%2F9b%2Fd7%2F3f9bd79f3370dd1083fac52ebf2d7b4
1.png&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsummer-heart-0930.chufeiyun1688.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F75153887505068590%2F&tbnid=fBbkX7Z3RdZq6M&vet=10CAMQxiAoAGoXCh
MINGiqq666wIVAAAAAB0AAAAAEAw..i&docid=L4OogN1eB8daM&w=635&h=385&itg=1&q=f7121719d200cdd6793aa4e9c4bdf893&ved=0CAMQ
xiAoAGoXChMI-NGiqq666wIVAAAAAB0AAAAAEAw

To summarize:

Data/Variable

Qualitative Quantitative

.
Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio

For further understanding, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eghn__C7JLQ

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