Deriving expression for $\sum_{k=1}^{n} a_k$ using $\sum_{k=1}^{n}a^2_{k+1}-\sum_{k=1}^{n}a^2_k$ Let $a_n$ are terms of arithmetic sequence. Derive expression for $\sum_{k=1}^{n} a_k$ using $\sum_{k=1}^{n}a^2_{k+1}-\sum_{k=1}^{n}a^2_k$.

At first, I'm changing index in the first sum to $k=k+1$ so I'm getting $$\sum_{k=2}^{n+1}a^2_{k}-\sum_{k=1}^{n}a^2_k.$$
Then, taking out last term in the first sum and first term in second sum we get
$$(n+1)^2 + \sum_{k=2}^n a_k^2 - 1 - \sum_{k=2}^n a_k^2.$$
Which simplifies into $n^2 + 2n$. But we know that $\sum_k^n a_k = \frac{n}{2}(n+1)$. Where do I miss this $\frac{1}{2}$ factor?
 A: In your answer, the terms you pulled out of the sum should have been $a_{n+1}^2$ and $a_1^2$, not $(n+1)^2$ and $1$. 
Here's another approach: Since $(a_n)_{n \ge 1}$ is an arithmetic sequence, the quantity $d = a_{k+1}-a_k$ is constant for all $k \ge 1$. Hence
$$\sum_{k=1}^n a_{k+1}^2 - \sum_{k=1}^n a_k^2 = \sum_{k=1}^n (a_{k+1}-a_k)(a_{k+1}+a_k) = \sum_{k=1}^n d(a_{k+1}+a_k)$$
Now you can play around with reindexing sums to express $\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^n a_k$ in terms of $\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^n a_{k+1}^2- \sum_{k=1}^n a_k^2$.
A: $$a_{n+1}^2-a_1^2=\sum_{k=1}^{n}a^2_{k+1}-\sum_{k=1}^{n}a^2_k=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\left(a^2_{k+1}-a^2_k\right)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\left(a_{k+1}-a_k\right)\left(a_{k+1}+a_k\right)$$
$$=\left(a_{k+1}-a_k\right)\sum_{k=1}^{n}\left(a_{k+1}+a_k\right)=\left(a_{k+1}-a_k\right)\left[2\sum_{k=1}^{n}a_k \space -a_1+a_{n+1}\right]$$
where going from line 1 to 2 is justified by the fact that $\left(a_{k+1}-a_k\right)=d$ is constant for arithmetic sequences.
Rearranging, we see:
$$\sum_{k=1}^{n}a_k=\frac{a_{n+1}^2-a_1^2+d(a_1-a_{n+1})}{2d}=\frac{(a_{n+1}-a_{1})(a_{n+1}+a_1-d)}{2d}$$
$$=\frac{a_{n+1}-a_1}{d}\frac{a_1+(a_{n+1}-d)}{2}=n\frac{a_1+a_n}{2}$$
where:


*

*first equals sign comes from rearranging

*second equals sign comes from factoring out $a_{n+1}-a_1$

*third equals sign comes from splitting the factors

*fourth equals sign comes from the fact that $a_n$ is an arithmetic sequence, namely that $(a_j-a_k)=(j-k)d$

