Question 151887
{{{-.5sum( i, 1, 8 )+2)}}}

Is this the correct problem?

The solution will not be 0, however.

I will iterate first:

-.5+2-1+2-1.5+2-2+2-2.5+2-3+2-3.5+2-4+2=-2.

Now, formula-wise, remove the constant 2 by properties of summation notation to make it +8*2=+16.

Further, the sum from 1 to n of i is given by n(n+1)/2.
So if n=8,

8(9)/2=36. Now, that is modified by -.5. So -18 is our remaining summation.

-18+16=-2.