sequences and series - Formula for $1^2+2^2+3^2+. . . +n^2$ - Mathematics . . . $ (n+1)^3 - n^3 = 3n^2+3n+1$ - so it is clear that the $n^2$ terms can be added (with some lower-order terms attached) by adding the differences of cubes, giving a leading term in $n^3$ The factor 1 3 attached to the $n^3$ term is also obvious from this observation