jmc

Question

Sean adds up all the even integers from 2 to 500, inclusive. Julie adds up all the integers from 1 to 250, inclusive. What is Sean's sum divided by Julie's sum?

Accepted Answer

Note that if we factor out a 2, then Sean's sum is 2 + 4 + + 500 = 2(1 + 2 + + 250). Julie's sum is 1 + 2 + + 250. So Sean's sum divided by Julie's sum is 2(1 + 2 + + 250)(1 + 2 + + 250) = 2.