Skip to main content

2020 AMC 10A Problem 8

Problem 8 of 25EasierAlgebraProblem-Solving Techniques

What is the value of 1+2+3−4+5+6+7−8+⋯+197+198+199−200? \begin{aligned} &1+2+3-4+5+6+7-8\\ &\quad+\cdots\\ &\quad+197+198+199-200? \end{aligned}

Answer choices

Show solution

Solution

Group the terms in blocks of four: (1+2+3−4)(1+2+3-4) +(5+6+7−8)+(5+6+7-8) +⋯+\cdots +(197+198+199−200)+(197+198+199-200). The jjth block is (4j−3)+(4j−2)(4j-3)+(4j-2) +(4j−1)−4j=8j−6+(4j-1)-4j=8j-6. There are 5050 blocks, so the sum is ∑j=150(8j−6)=8⋅50⋅512\sum_{j=1}^{50}(8j-6)=8\cdot\dfrac{50\cdot51}{2} −6⋅50=9900-6\cdot50=9900. Thus, B is the correct answer.
AoPS wiki

Tagged: summation · pairing and grouping

More practice