MathLabs

Problem 1

Compute the sum S=∑i=0101xi31−3xi+3xi2S = \sum_{i=0}^{101} \frac{x_i^3}{1 - 3x_i + 3x_i^2} for xi=i101x_i = \frac{i}{101}.
Step 4 of 4: Count the terms and divide by two
In plain words

Don't forget that the index runs from 00 to 101101 inclusive, so there are 101−0+1=102101 - 0 + 1 = 102 terms in total, making the average sum 5151.

2S=∑i=01011=102  ⟹  S=512S = \sum_{i=0}^{101} 1 = 102 \implies S = 51
Detailed analysis

Since xi3+x101−i3>0x_i^3 + x_{101-i}^3 > 0 for every i∈{0,1,…,101}i \in \{0, 1, \ldots, 101\}, each of the 102102 terms in the combined sum equals 11. Therefore 2S=1022S = 102, which gives S=51S = 51.