- Write the general term
The given series is
2⋅1(420)−3⋅2(520)+4⋅3(620)−⋯+18⋅17(2020).
For r=4,5,6,…,20, the general term is
(−1)r(r−2)(r−3)(r20).
So
S=∑r=420(−1)r(r−2)(r−3)(r20).
Since
(r−2)(r−3)=r2−5r+6,
we get
S=∑r=420(−1)r(r2−5r+6)(r20).
- Extend the sum from r=0 to 20
Let
T=∑r=020(−1)r(r−2)(r−3)(r20).
Then
S=T−∑r=03(−1)r(r−2)(r−3)(r20).
- Evaluate T using binomial identities
We use the standard results from
(1+x)20=∑r=020(r20)xr.
Putting x=−1 gives
∑r=020(−1)r(r20)=(1−1)20=0.
Also,
∑r=020r(−1)r(r20)=0,
and
∑r=020r(r−1)(−1)r(r20)=0,
because these come from derivatives of (1+x)20 evaluated at x=−1, and each contains a factor (1+x)k with k>0.
Now
r2=r(r−1)+r,
so
∑r=020r2(−1)r(r20)=0+0=0.
Hence
T=∑r=020(−1)r(r2−5r+6)(r20)=0−5⋅0+6⋅0=0.
Therefore,
S=−∑r=03(−1)r(r−2)(r−3)(r20).
- Compute the missing first four terms
For r=0:
(−1)0(−2)(−3)(020)=6.
For r=1:
(−1)1(−1)(−2)(120)=−40.
For r=2:
(−1)2(0)(−1)(220)=0.
For r=3:
(−1)3(1)(0)(320)=0.
So
∑r=03(−1)r(r−2)(r−3)(r20)=6−40=−34.
Thus,
S=−(−34)=34.
- Final answer
34
The derived answer matches the stored correct answer.