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#1 2011-05-04 12:37:57
- marie19
- Guest
Gauss's Method
Find the following sum with Gauss's Method (writing the sum forward and backward): 18+24+30+...+144.
The answer is 1782 but I do not know how that is the answer.
#2 2011-05-04 14:09:45
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Gauss's Method
Hi marie19;
Welcome to the forum! I guess you are thinking Gauss' famous 5050 answer for the sum of the numbers from 1 to 100. They are really make too much of that idea and using it where Gauss would never.
You can pair the numbers off:
Now notice that each bracket sums to 162. How many brackets are there?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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