Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 02:56 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 02:56

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
SORT BY:
Date
Tags:
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
Posts: 81
Own Kudos [?]: 36 [10]
Given Kudos: 9
Send PM
Most Helpful Reply
Tutor
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 14822
Own Kudos [?]: 64907 [29]
Given Kudos: 426
Location: Pune, India
Send PM
Tutor
Joined: 19 Apr 2009
Affiliations: GMATQuantum
Posts: 560
Own Kudos [?]: 657 [14]
Given Kudos: 19
Send PM
General Discussion
User avatar
VP
VP
Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Posts: 1011
Own Kudos [?]: 3119 [2]
Given Kudos: 116
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42
GPA: 3.8
WE:Engineering (Energy and Utilities)
Send PM
Re: Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
1
Kudos
1
Bookmarks
3+6+9+12+15+18+21+24+27+30...... = 3*(1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10...)

So, yup.. You can do that...
Intern
Intern
Joined: 16 Jul 2011
Posts: 35
Own Kudos [?]: 7 [0]
Given Kudos: 166
Concentration: Marketing, Real Estate
GMAT 1: 550 Q37 V28
GMAT 2: 610 Q43 V31
Send PM
Re: Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
bschoolaspirant9 wrote:
Is the sum of n positive integers formula, \(\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\), applicable to sets of consecutive integers as well?

For instance, if I wanted to calculate sum of first 20 multiples of 3, could I use: 3 x \(\frac{20(21)}{2}\)

In OG PS Q172, a similar approach has been used for even numbers.


Note that the formula n(n+1)/2 is used only for adding n consecutive integers starting from 1.
A problem may not directly ask you for this but if you can break it down such that you have to find the sum of 'n consecutive integers starting from 1' then you can use this formula.

In the even integers questions, you may be required to find the sum of first 10 even integers.
2 + 4 + 6 + ... + 18 + 20
Take 2 common, 2*(1 + 2 + 3 + ...10)
To find the sum of the highlighted part, we can use the formula. Then we can multiply it by 2 to get the required sum.

Note that for odd integers, you cannot directly use this formula.
Sum the first 10 odd integers
1 + 3 + 5 + 7+...+19
But you can still make some modifications to find the sum.

1 + 3 + 5 + 7+...+19 = (1 +2+ 3 + 4+5 + 6+ 7+...+19 + 20) - (2 + 4+ 6+...20)
We know how to sum consecutive integers.
(1 +2+ 3 + 4+5 + 6+ 7+...+19 + 20) = 20*21/2
(2 + 4+ 6+...20) = 2 * (10*11)/2 = 10*11 (as before)

So 1 + 3 + 5 + 7+...+19 = (20*21/2) - (10*11) = 100

The direct formula of sum of n consecutive odd integers starting from 1 = n^2



Great explanation. However, I have a suggestion. Why can't we use one single formula for all consecutive evenly spaced numbers which is Sum = (average)(number of terms). I hope i am correct? :roll:
Tutor
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 14822
Own Kudos [?]: 64907 [2]
Given Kudos: 426
Location: Pune, India
Send PM
Re: Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
2
Kudos
Expert Reply
samdighe wrote:
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
bschoolaspirant9 wrote:
Is the sum of n positive integers formula, \(\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\), applicable to sets of consecutive integers as well?

For instance, if I wanted to calculate sum of first 20 multiples of 3, could I use: 3 x \(\frac{20(21)}{2}\)

In OG PS Q172, a similar approach has been used for even numbers.


Note that the formula n(n+1)/2 is used only for adding n consecutive integers starting from 1.
A problem may not directly ask you for this but if you can break it down such that you have to find the sum of 'n consecutive integers starting from 1' then you can use this formula.

In the even integers questions, you may be required to find the sum of first 10 even integers.
2 + 4 + 6 + ... + 18 + 20
Take 2 common, 2*(1 + 2 + 3 + ...10)
To find the sum of the highlighted part, we can use the formula. Then we can multiply it by 2 to get the required sum.

Note that for odd integers, you cannot directly use this formula.
Sum the first 10 odd integers
1 + 3 + 5 + 7+...+19
But you can still make some modifications to find the sum.

1 + 3 + 5 + 7+...+19 = (1 +2+ 3 + 4+5 + 6+ 7+...+19 + 20) - (2 + 4+ 6+...20)
We know how to sum consecutive integers.
(1 +2+ 3 + 4+5 + 6+ 7+...+19 + 20) = 20*21/2
(2 + 4+ 6+...20) = 2 * (10*11)/2 = 10*11 (as before)

So 1 + 3 + 5 + 7+...+19 = (20*21/2) - (10*11) = 100

The direct formula of sum of n consecutive odd integers starting from 1 = n^2



Great explanation. However, I have a suggestion. Why can't we use one single formula for all consecutive evenly spaced numbers which is Sum = (average)(number of terms). I hope i am correct? :roll:


We can, provided we know the average and the number of terms.
If we are asked to find the sum of first 50 consecutive positive odd integers, it might be easier to use 50^2 than to find average and then find the sum.

Mind you, I myself believe in knowing just the main all-applicable kind of formulas and then twisting them around to apply to any situation. But some people prefer to work more on specific formulas and these discussions are for their benefit.
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 19 Dec 2018
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
Re: Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
for consecutive odd or even ranges

sum = (f + n-1) n

f is the first number in the sequence, n is the number of elements in the sequence
Tutor
Joined: 19 Apr 2009
Affiliations: GMATQuantum
Posts: 560
Own Kudos [?]: 657 [1]
Given Kudos: 19
Send PM
Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
1
Kudos
Expert Reply
Top Contributor
I am no longer active on GMAT Club.

Originally posted by dabral on 21 Dec 2018, 01:01.
Last edited by dabral on 18 Aug 2023, 18:02, edited 1 time in total.
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92912
Own Kudos [?]: 618892 [0]
Given Kudos: 81595
Send PM
Re: Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
Expert Reply
RustyR wrote:
Is the sum of n positive integers formula, \(\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\), applicable to sets of consecutive integers as well?

For instance, if I wanted to calculate sum of first 20 multiples of 3, could I use: 3 x \(\frac{20(21)}{2}\)

In OG PS Q172, a similar approach has been used for even numbers.



For more check Formulas for Consecutive, Even, Odd Integers

User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 32665
Own Kudos [?]: 821 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
GMAT Club Bot
Re: Sum of n positive integers formula for consecutive integers? [#permalink]
Moderator:
Math Expert
92912 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne