9231 P11 - Nov 2022 - Q03
4248
(a) By considering \((2r+1)^3 - (2r-1)^3\), use the method of differences to prove that \(\sum_{r=1}^{n} r^2 = \frac{1}{6}n(n+1)(2n+1)\).
Let \(S_n = 1^2 + 3 \times 2^2 + 3^2 + 3 \times 4^2 + 5^2 + 3 \times 6^2 + \ldots + \left(2 + (-1)^n\right)n^2\).
(b) Show that \(S_{2n} = \frac{1}{3}n(2n+1)(an+b)\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers to be determined.
(c) State the value of \(\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{S_{2n}}{n^3}\).
