Sum of Powers of Positive Integers

Theorem

Let $n, p \in \Z_{>0}$ be (strictly) positive integers.

Then:

\(\displaystyle \sum_{k \mathop = 1}^n k^p\)

\(=\)

\(\displaystyle 1^p + 2^p + \cdots + n^p\)

\(\displaystyle \)

\(=\)

\(\displaystyle \frac {n^{p + 1} } {p + 1} + \sum_{k \mathop = 1}^p \frac {B_k \, p^{\underline {k - 1} } \, n^{p - k + 1} } {k!}\)

\(\displaystyle \)

\(=\)

\(\displaystyle \frac {n^{p + 1} } {p + 1} + \frac {B_1 \, n^p} {1!} + \frac {B_2 \, p \, n^{p - 1} } {2!} + \frac {B_4 \, p \left({p - 1}\right) \left({p - 2}\right) n^{p - 3} } {4!} + \cdots\)

where:

$B_k$ are the Bernoulli numbers

$p^{\underline k}$ is the $k$th falling factorial of $p$.

Sources

• 1968: Murray R. Spiegel: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 19$: Sums of Powers of Positive Integers: $19.8$