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mandb
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An easier way to add n consecutive numbers is

n*(firstnumber + lastnumber)/2

so for the first 200 numbers it will be
200*(1+200)/2
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rohitbhotica
An easier way to add n consecutive numbers is

n*(firstnumber + lastnumber)/2

so for the first 200 numbers it will be
200*(1+200)/2

@rohitbhotica

The only thing to remember is, if first number is not 1, then you may not multiply by n. e.g. if you want to find the sum of consecutive numbers from 10 to 20, then 20*(10+20)/2 does not give correct results.
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rohitbhotica
An easier way to add n consecutive numbers is

n*(firstnumber + lastnumber)/2

so for the first 200 numbers it will be
200*(1+200)/2

@rohitbhotica

The only thing to remember is, if first number is not 1, then you may not multiply by n. e.g. if you want to find the sum of consecutive numbers from 10 to 20, then 20*(10+20)/2 does not give correct results.


no in my explanation n is the number of numbers that are added. So a sum from 10 to 20 will have n as 11
so the answer will be 11*(10+20)/2 = 165 which is the answer.
I hope that helps
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and the best part about this is that it works for any number of numbers in a arithmetic progression..
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Well, that's great, Benjiboo. I understand almost all about geometric & arithmetic sequences now.

However, I still have one question about the Increment 4 above.

I suppose in the example about the number of multiples of 7 between 2 and 120, the increment should be 7. If so, we have

(119-7)/7 + 1 = 17 numbers --> this is true.

If increment is 4 --> (119-7)/4 + 1= 29 numbers --> not true.

Correct me if I am wrong.
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Well, that's great, Benjiboo. I understand almost all about geometric & arithmetic sequences now.

However, I still have one question about the Increment 4 above.

I suppose in the example about the number of multiples of 7 between 2 and 120, the increment should be 7. If so, we have

(119-7)/7 + 1 = 17 numbers --> this is true.

If increment is 4 --> (119-7)/4 + 1= 29 numbers --> not true.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Hi, sorry I had a typo in there, in which I had a 4 instead of a 7 in the equation. I have fixed it now.

As to clear up anyone who might now be confused by this post and my error, when you do such an equation for an increment, make sure that the FIRST TERM and LAST TERM are multiples of the increment. So if you wanted to find the multiples of 7 between 2 and 120, you would use 119 as the LAST TERM and 7 as the FIRST TERM. However, if you wanted to find the multiples of 4 between 2 and 120, your FIRST TERM would be 4, and your LAST TERM would be 120.

As for anyone else reading this, please PM me if you are having problems with this topic. I am in the middle of creating a GMAT MATH STRATEGY GUIDE that covers every GMAT topic for a quick reference. There are many different ways to think about each topic in math. For example, there is another way to think about series and sequences that I did not like here that may be easier for some people. My guide will include all of that, but it is not finished yet. However, please do PM me if you need help with any topic and nobody has answered your post or so on!

Benjiboo
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Hi

Sum of n consecutive/first 'n' natural numbers = n(n+1)/2

Sum of n consecutive even numbers = n(n+1)

Sum of the squares of the first n natural numbers = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6

Sum of the cubes of first n natural numbers = [n(n+1)/2]^2 (the whole square)
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If GMAT says "between" 1 and 120 (for example), would you actually include 1 and 120 (assuming they fit the requirements)? Linguistically speaking, there are 120 numbers "from" 1 "to" 120, but only 118 "between" 1 and 120 (from 2 to 119).
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If GMAT says "between" 1 and 120 (for example), would you actually include 1 and 120 (assuming they fit the requirements)? Linguistically speaking, there are 120 numbers "from" 1 "to" 120, but only 118 "between" 1 and 120 (from 2 to 119).

From The Official Guide For GMAT Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition, page 22:

To say that the number n is between 1 and 4 means that 1 < n < 4. If n is "between 1 and 4, inclusive," then \(1\leq n \leq 4\).
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Hi

Sum of n consecutive/first 'n' natural numbers = n(n+1)/2

Sum of n consecutive even numbers = n(n+1)

Sum of the squares of the first n natural numbers = n(n+1)(2n+1)/6

Sum of the cubes of first n natural numbers = [n(n+1)/2]^2 (the whole square)


I think you should add 'first' in: Sum of first n consecutive even numbers = n(n+1)
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gallery79
If GMAT says "between" 1 and 120 (for example), would you actually include 1 and 120 (assuming they fit the requirements)? Linguistically speaking, there are 120 numbers "from" 1 "to" 120, but only 118 "between" 1 and 120 (from 2 to 119).

From The Official Guide For GMAT Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition, page 22:

To say that the number n is between 1 and 4 means that 1 < n < 4. If n is "between 1 and 4, inclusive," then \(1\leq n \leq 4\).

1. Arithmetic




2. Properties of Integers



12. Sequences



For other subjects:
ALL YOU NEED FOR QUANT ! ! !
Ultimate GMAT Quantitative Megathread

Hope it helps.
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and the best part about this is that it works for any number of numbers in a arithmetic progression..
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