The Sum Rule for integration allows you to split a sum inside an integral into the sum of two separate integrals. Similarly, you can break a sum inside a series into the sum of two separate series:
For example:
A little algebra allows you to split this fraction into two terms:
Now the rule allows you to split this result into two series:
This sum of two series is equivalent to the series that you started with. As with the Sum Rule for integration, expressing a series as a sum of two simpler series tends to make problem-solving easier. Generally speaking, as you proceed onward with series, any trick you can find to simplify a difficult series is a good thing.
