What is the difference between the sums of the first (28) and first (14) natural numbers?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: 301
The sum of the first n natural numbers is
\(S_n=\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\). Thus, \(S_{28}=\frac{28\times29}{2}=406\) and \(S_{14}=\frac{14\times15}{2}=105\). Therefore, the difference is \(406-105=301\). An answer such as 291 usually results from an arithmetic error while subtracting the sum up to 14. Exam tip: for a difference of sums, calculate both sums using the formula and subtract the smaller one from the larger one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
301
Why is this the correct answer?
The sum of the first n natural numbers is
\(S_n=\frac{n(n+1)}{2}\). Thus, \(S_{28}=\frac{28\times29}{2}=406\) and \(S_{14}=\frac{14\times15}{2}=105\). Therefore, the difference is \(406-105=301\). An answer such as 291 usually results from an arithmetic error while subtracting the sum up to 14. Exam tip: for a difference of sums, calculate both sums using the formula and subtract the smaller one from the larger one.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 9 Mathematics question. Chapter: Sequences and Progressions. Topic: Sum of first n natural numbers.
Student feedback
Was this question useful?
👍 0 Helpful 👎 0 Not helpful
Yes 0% No 0%
0 responsesStudent Reviews
No published reviews yet.
