∑r=12n(n+1)\sum r=\frac12n(n+1)∑r=21n(n+1), ∑r2=16n(n+1)(2n+1)\sum r^2=\frac16n(n+1)(2n+1)∑r2=61n(n+1)(2n+1), ∑r3=14n2(n+1)2\sum r^3=\frac14n^2(n+1)^2∑r3=41n2(n+1)2. Combine them for polynomial sums. When each term is a difference f(r)−f(r+1)f(r)-f(r+1)f(r)−f(r+1), almost everything cancels: the method of differences.