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algebra intermediate
Problem
When the first counting numbers are arranged in columns, as shown, what is the sum of all of the counting numbers in column
Solution
The numbers in the last row are so we want to find the sum The sum of an arithmetic series is equal to the average of the first and last term, multiplied by the number of terms.
We first add by observing that the mean of these five terms is so their sum is Similarly, the mean of the five terms in the sum is so their sum is Adding these sums, we find that the original sum is
We first add by observing that the mean of these five terms is so their sum is Similarly, the mean of the five terms in the sum is so their sum is Adding these sums, we find that the original sum is
Final answer
255