I don't understand this question

The sum of the first "n" natural numbers is a quadratic relation. Determine that relation and verify it for the first 6 natural numbers

Question

I don't understand this question

The sum of the first "n" natural numbers is a quadratic relation. Determine that relation and verify it for the first 6 natural numbers

mertsj · Answer

We would be talking about the sum of this arithmetic series:  
1,2,3,4,5,...n-1, n

waheguru · Answer

Can you show me step by step how to solve this

mertsj · Answer

I don't really know.  I would hunt up the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series and see where that leads me.

mertsj · Answer

http://www.trans4mind.com/personal_development/mathematics/series/sumNaturalNumbers.htm

anonymous · Answer

natural number sequence is
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,///
notice that "0" is not a natural number

anonymous · Answer

this is an arithmatic sequence of difference "1"

so, $$S_n={n\over2}[a_0+(n-1)d]\
S_n={n\over2}[1+(n-1)]\
S_n={n^2\over2}$$

waheguru · Answer

can you explain how you came up with the formula

anonymous · Answer

the formula 
$$S_n={n\over2}[a_0+(n-1)d]$$
is the formula for the sum of "n" numbers in arithmetic series starting from "a0" with a common difference of "d"