View Single Post
  #2  
Old November 10th, 2008, 04:46 AM
HallsofIvy HallsofIvy is offline
MHF Contributor
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,499
Thanks: 328
Thanked 1,214 Times in 1,115 Posts
HallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud ofHallsofIvy has much to be proud of
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jvignacio View Post
\frac {numberOfTerms}{2} \cdot (firstTerm+lastTerm)


\frac {numberOfTerms}{2} \cdot (200+5000)

how do we find the number of terms ? cheers
What, exactly did the problem say? What you've written here makes no sense.

In the sequence 200, 5000, 200 is the first term , 5000 is the last term and there are 2 terms. The sum is 5200 or, using your formula, (2/2)(200+ 5000)= 5200.

In the sequence 200, 2600, 5000, 200 is the first term, 5000 is the last term and there are 3 terms. The sum is 7800 or, using your formula, (3/2)(200+ 5000)= (3/2)(5200)= 3(2600)= 7800.

You cannot find either the number of terms nor the sum of an arithmetic series just from the first and last numbers. You have to know what the series is!
Reply With Quote