# how to prove that $\sum_{k=1}^{m}k!k=(m+1)!-1$ without induction?

how to prove that $$\sum_{k=1}^{m}k!k=(m+1)!-1$$ without induction ?

my only try is to put $k!=\Gamma(k+1)$ then use geometric series with some steps but I got complicated integral

If any one can solve it using my way or similar way using calculus technique

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First of all, all you can ever do with this sort of problem is hide the induction. You can't even define the sum "without induction." – Thomas Andrews Mar 12 '14 at 23:12
I personally want a counting argument. – nayrb Mar 12 '14 at 23:16
@nayrb See my answer, then. – Thomas Andrews Mar 12 '14 at 23:21

## 2 Answers

$$\sum_{k=1}^{m}k!k \\ \sum_{k=1}^{m}k!(k+1-1) \\ \sum_{k=1}^{m}k!(k+1)-k! \\ \sum_{k=1}^{m}(k+1)!-k! \\ = 2!-1!+3!-2!+4!-3!+\cdots + (m+1)!-m! \\ =(m+1)!-1$$

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oh my god but I need 4 minutes more – user130806 Mar 12 '14 at 23:17
+1 Pretty short and quite neat. – Felix Marin Mar 12 '14 at 23:31
Telescopy is induction in disguise. But as Thomas Andrews pointed, it is impossible to prove this without induction. This argument is kind of nice, though. +1. – chubakueno Mar 12 '14 at 23:31
@chubakueno I agree and thanks. – Priyatham Mar 12 '14 at 23:32

There is a combinatorial approach.

The number $(m+1)!-1$ counts the number of non-identity permutations of $\{1,2,\dots,m+1\}$.

On the other hand $k\cdot k!$ counts the number of such permutations that fix all elements greater than $k+1$ but not $k+1$.

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