Last visit was: 27 Mar 2025, 12:42 It is currently 27 Mar 2025, 12:42
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
User avatar
KSBGC
Joined: 31 Oct 2013
Last visit: 10 Mar 2022
Posts: 1,257
Own Kudos:
1,359
 [61]
Given Kudos: 635
Concentration: Accounting, Finance
GPA: 3.68
WE:Analyst (Accounting)
Posts: 1,257
Kudos: 1,359
 [61]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
58
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 13 May 2024
Posts: 6,769
Own Kudos:
33,155
 [22]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,769
Kudos: 33,155
 [22]
13
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Iamnowjust
Joined: 26 Mar 2018
Last visit: 18 Feb 2021
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
16
 [10]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 10
Kudos: 16
 [10]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 27 March 2025
Posts: 100,114
Own Kudos:
711,372
 [1]
Given Kudos: 92,732
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 100,114
Kudos: 711,372
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
selim
what is the value of 38^2\(\) + 39^2\(\)+40^2\(\) +41^2\(\) + 42^2\(\)

A.7950
B.7990
C.8010
D.8050
E.8070

This is a copy of this question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/36-126078.html and this one: https://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the- ... 98546.html
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 11,342
Own Kudos:
39,793
 [6]
Given Kudos: 333
Status:Math and DI Expert
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 11,342
Kudos: 39,793
 [6]
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
selim
What is the value of \(38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2\) ?

A. 7950
B. 7990
C. 8010
D. 8050
E. 8070

It is always good to know the formula for SUM of square of first n natural numbers.. \(\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}\)..

so \(38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2\) = (\(1^2+2^2+............. 41^2 + 42^2\))-(\(1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 +...........+ 36^2 + 37^2\))..

\(\frac{42(42+1)(2*42+1)}{6}-\frac{37(37+1)(2*37+1)}{6}=7*43*85-37*19*25=8010\)
User avatar
GMATBusters
User avatar
GMAT Tutor
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Last visit: 21 Mar 2025
Posts: 1,927
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 241
WE:General Management (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,927
Kudos: 6,207
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I don't think this is right approach, this approach could have worked if we want to eliminate some options which do
not end with 0. here all the options end with 0. so this approach might not work.

Experts view needed Bunuel, @chetan4u

Iamnowjust
My method:

(30+8) + (30+9) + (30+10) + (30+11) + 30+12) . I just did 8^2+9^2+10^2+11^2+12^2 = ...10, so the number should end with 10. The answer is C.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
GMATBusters
User avatar
GMAT Tutor
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Last visit: 21 Mar 2025
Posts: 1,927
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 241
WE:General Management (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,927
Kudos: 6,207
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I really like your approach using this formula.
In fact I want to add 2 more fundamental formula for summation:

1) \(1+2+3+...+n = n(n+1)/2\) - Sum of first n natural numbers.
2) \(1^3+2^3+...+n^3 = (n(n+1)/2)^2\) - Sum of cube of first n natural numbers.


chetan2u
selim
What is the value of \(38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2\) ?

A. 7950
B. 7990
C. 8010
D. 8050
E. 8070

It is always good to know the formula for SUM of square of first n natural numbers.. \(\frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}\)..

so \(38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2\) = \(1^2+2^2+.......38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2\)-(\(1^2 + 2^2 + 3^2 +...........+ 36^2 + 37^2\)..

\(\frac{42(42+1)(2*42+1)}{6}-\frac{37(37+1)(2*37+1)}{6}=7*43*85-37*19*25=8010\)
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 11,342
Own Kudos:
39,793
 [2]
Given Kudos: 333
Status:Math and DI Expert
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 11,342
Kudos: 39,793
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Iamnowjust
My method:

(30+8) + (30+9) + (30+10) + (30+11) + 30+12) . I just did 8^2+9^2+10^2+11^2+12^2 = ...10, so the number should end with 10. The answer is C.

Posted from my mobile device


You are lucky to have got the correct answer..

There is no logic behind this..
example 38^2+39^2=2965, ...so __65
8^2+9^2=145

so you can just talk of UNITS digit and NOT tens digit
avatar
Funsho84
Joined: 08 Sep 2016
Last visit: 13 Aug 2022
Posts: 75
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 25
Posts: 75
Kudos: 61
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(40-2)^2 + (40-1)^2 + 40^2 + (40+1)^2 + (40+2)^2

You can foil each expression for the answer. A quick way to the answer is to focus on the last multiplication when you foil for each expression.

You will get 4+1+4+1 = 10

Check out the link that Bunuel provided. His/her approach to this problem is really good.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/36-126078.html
avatar
dbushkalov
Joined: 20 Oct 2019
Last visit: 05 Nov 2019
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATPrepNow
selim
What is the value of \(38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2\) ?

A. 7950
B. 7990
C. 8010
D. 8050
E. 8070

I love this question (and all of the replicas :-) )!!

First notice that 38² + 39² + 40² + 41² + 42² = (40 - 2)² + (40 - 1)² + 40² + (40 + 1)² + (40 + 2)²

Now notice that (40 - 2)² + (40 - 1)² + 40² + (40 + 1)² + (40 + 2)² has the form (x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)²
So, let's expand and simplify (x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)² and see what we get.

(x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)² = [x² - 4x + 4] + [x² - 2x + 1] + [x²] + [x² + 2x + 1] + [x² + 4x + 4] [lots of canceling to do here...]
= 5x² + 10

So, if (x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)² simplifies to become 5x² + 10...
...then (40 - 2)² + (40 - 1)² + 40² + (40 + 1)² + (40 + 2)² must simplify to become 5(40²) + 10

5(40²) + 10 = 5(1600) + 10
= 8000 + 10
= 8010

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent


What if we are trying to find the sum of the squares of 6 or 7 consecutive integers? Is there a fixed formula for them too?
User avatar
CEdward
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 Apr 2022
Posts: 1,216
Own Kudos:
233
 [1]
Given Kudos: 332
Posts: 1,216
Kudos: 233
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
dbushkalov
GMATPrepNow
selim
What is the value of \(38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2\) ?

A. 7950
B. 7990
C. 8010
D. 8050
E. 8070

I love this question (and all of the replicas :-) )!!

First notice that 38² + 39² + 40² + 41² + 42² = (40 - 2)² + (40 - 1)² + 40² + (40 + 1)² + (40 + 2)²

Now notice that (40 - 2)² + (40 - 1)² + 40² + (40 + 1)² + (40 + 2)² has the form (x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)²
So, let's expand and simplify (x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)² and see what we get.

(x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)² = [x² - 4x + 4] + [x² - 2x + 1] + [x²] + [x² + 2x + 1] + [x² + 4x + 4] [lots of canceling to do here...]
= 5x² + 10

So, if (x - 2)² + (x - 1)² + x² + (x + 1)² + (x + 2)² simplifies to become 5x² + 10...
...then (40 - 2)² + (40 - 1)² + 40² + (40 + 1)² + (40 + 2)² must simplify to become 5(40²) + 10

5(40²) + 10 = 5(1600) + 10
= 8000 + 10
= 8010

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent


What if we are trying to find the sum of the squares of 6 or 7 consecutive integers? Is there a fixed formula for them too?

I think you would just expand on Brent's formula?
avatar
Laveshan
Joined: 16 Aug 2020
Last visit: 22 Sep 2021
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
6
 [1]
Given Kudos: 21
Products:
Posts: 5
Kudos: 6
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Guys, the long formulas scare me. I made a short cut formula based on Bunuels formulas:

A * B^2 + 2(C^2 + (C-1)^2 + (C-2)..until 0) = answer

A is how many numbers you need to add - 5
B is the middle number - 40
C is the distance between the middle and lower (or higher number) - 2

We get: 5 * 40^2 + 2(2^2 + 2^1) = 8010.

I used this shortcut on other similar problems to test and it works well.


Bunuel, Karishma, Chetan and Brent, thank you for all the posts and work. It is really helping me!
User avatar
adityasuresh
Joined: 03 May 2020
Last visit: 17 Mar 2025
Posts: 107
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 512
Posts: 107
Kudos: 43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What is the value of 38^2 + 39^2 + 40^2 + 41^2 + 42^2 ?

We can use the common elements in (a+b)^2 and (a-b)^2
A^2 is going to 40 in all 5 elements: Therefore 40^2 * 5 = 8000
B^2 is going to be positive for all elements: Therefore 4+1+1+4
2AB Cancels out nicely with positive in 2ab in the first 2 elements and negative 2ab in the last 2 elements
Therefore sum = 8000 + 10
C
User avatar
BrushMyQuant
Joined: 05 Apr 2011
Last visit: 11 Mar 2025
Posts: 2,193
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 100
Status:Tutor - BrushMyQuant
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
Schools: XLRI (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V31
GPA: 3
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: XLRI (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V31
Posts: 2,193
Kudos: 2,385
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
We need to find the sum of \(38^2+39^2+40^2+41^2+42^2\)

We know that sum of first n positive integers starting from 1 = \(\frac{n*(n+1)*(2n+1)}{6}\)

\(38^2+39^2+40^2+41^2+42^2\) = \(1^2 + 2^2 + .... + 36^2+37^2+38^2+39^2+40^2+41^2+42^2\) - (\(1^2 + 2^2 + .... + 36^2+37^2\))
= Sum of Squares from 1 to 42 - Sum of Squares from 1 to 37
= \(\frac{42*(42+1)*(2*42+1)}{6}\) - \(\frac{37*(37+1)*(2*37+1)}{6}\)
= \(\frac{42*43*85}{6}\) - \(\frac{37*38*75}{6}\)
= 25,585 - 17,575
= 8010

So, Answer will C
Hope it helps!

Watch the following video to MASTER Sequence problems

Moderators:
Math Expert
100114 posts
PS Forum Moderator
518 posts