The Excel SERIESSUM Function

Function Description

The Excel Seriessum function returns the sum of a power series, based on the following power series expansion:

Power Series Equation

The syntax of the function is:

SERIESSUM( x, n, m, coefficients )

Where the function arguments are:

x - The input value to the power series.
n - The first power to which x is to be raised.
m - The step size that n is increased by, on each successive power of x.
coefficients - An array of coefficients that multiply each successive power of x.

The number of values in the supplied coefficients array defines the number of terms in the power series. This is illustrated in the following examples.


Excel Seriessum Function Examples

Example 1

In the spreadsheet below, the Excel Seriessum function is used to calculate the power series:

51 + 52 + 53 + 54 + 55
 Formula:
  A
1 =SERIESSUM( 5, 1, 1, {1,1,1,1,1} )
 Result:
  A
1 3905

Example 2

In the spreadsheet below, the Excel Seriessum function calculates the power series:

1 * 21 + 2 * 23 + 3 * 25 + 4 * 27 + 5 * 29
 Formula:
  A
1 =SERIESSUM( 2, 1, 2, {1,2,3,4,5} )
 Result:
  A
1 3186

Further details and examples of the Excel Seriessum function are provided on the Microsoft Office website.


Seriessum Function Errors

If you get an error from the Excel Seriessum Function, this is likely to be the #VALUE! error:

Common Errors
#VALUE! - Occurs if any of the supplied arguments are non-numeric.