find a quick and easy method to compute the sum of the first 100 counting numbers (no calculators allowed)
Like Gauss did it?
1 + 100 = 101
2 + 99 = 101
3 + 98 = 101
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50 + 51 = 101
get it ?
234
To compute the sum of the first 100 counting numbers (1, 2, 3, ..., 100) without using a calculator, you can use a mathematical formula called the arithmetic series formula.
The formula for the sum of an arithmetic series is:
Sum = (n/2) * (first term + last term)
In this case, the first term is 1 and the last term is 100. We need to find the sum of the first 100 counting numbers, so n = 100.
Applying the formula, we have:
Sum = (100/2) * (1 + 100)
= 50 * (1 + 100)
= 50 * 101
= 5050
Hence, the sum of the first 100 counting numbers is 5050.