BEATCALC:  Beat the Calculator!

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Back to Calculation Tips & Tricks
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From the BEATCALC mailing list:
a weekly service from B. Lee Clay, archived here by the Math Forum.
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   Add a sequence from one to a selected
             2-digit number

  1. Choose a 2-digit number.
  2. Multiply the 2-digit number by half the next number, or
    Multiply half the 2-digit number by the next number.

   Example:

  1. If the 2-digit even number selected is 51:
  2. The next number is 52. Multiply 51 times half of 52.
  3. 51 x 26: (50 x 20) + (50 x 6) + 1 x 26) =
    1000 + 300 + 26 = 1326
  4. So the sum of all numbers from 1 through 51 is 1326.

   See the pattern?

  1. If the 2-digit even number selected is 34:
  2. The next number is 35. Multiply half of 34 x 35.
  3. 17 x 35: (10 x 35) + (7 x 30) + (7 x 5) =
    350 + 210 + 35 = 560 + 35 = 595
  4. So the sum of all numbers from 1 through 34 is 595.

With some multiplication practice you will be able to find these sums of sequential numbers easily and faster than someone using a calculator!
 


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18 March 1996
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