What’s the sum of t… - QuestionCove
OpenStudy (anonymous):

What’s the sum of the integers from 1 to 300?

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

well, we can either count them once, or twice ... which would you perfer

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

i dont know how finding integers work :/

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

lets take the set:$1,2,3,4,...,297,298,299,300$ do you agree that there are 300 elements in this set?

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

lets take another set, but define it as: $300,299,298,297,...,4,3,2,1$ would you agree that there are 300 elements of this set; and that it is just the first one turned around?

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes :)

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

then the sum of adding both sets would be 2 times the amount we need .... so lets add the elements together like this: $\begin{matrix} &1&2&3&4&...&297&298&299&300\\ +&300&299&298&297&...&4&3&2&1\\ \hline\\ &301&301&301&301&...&301&301&301&301 \end{matrix}$ would you agree that we have 300 elements of 301 each?

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes i agree

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

so, 301 added together 300 times is just multiplication:$300(301)$and that is twice the solution. therefore divide it in half:$\frac{300(301)}{2}$

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

in general: if you have $$n$$ elements of an arithmetic sequence, then the sum of them amounts to:$\frac{n(first+last)}{2}$

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

ok sooo n is 300 ( 1 + 300 ) /2 ?

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

or n is 301?

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

correct

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh so n is 300 only? where did the 301 go?

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

we have 300 elements; first one is 1, last one is 300 the sum of the set is: 300(1+300)/2

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

ph ok so basically 300(301)/2 =45150

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh*

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

correct

4 years ago
OpenStudy (anonymous):

thank you ^_^ ill keep in mind the formula thanks again

4 years ago
OpenStudy (amistre64):

youre welcome

4 years ago