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Compute 1 - 2 + 3 - 4 + \dots + 2005 - 2006 + 2007

 Jan 25, 2015

Best Answer 

 #2
avatar+130536 
+5

Notice that the first and last terms = 2008

And notice that the second term and the next-to-the-last term  = -2 - 2206 = -2008

And there are 1002 pair-wise additions like this that will sum to "0"

That leaves three "middle" terms, 1003 - 1004 + 1005 = 1004....and that's the sum

 Jan 25, 2015
 #1
avatar+118724 
+5

Do this as 2 seperate APs and then add the sums together. 

 Jan 25, 2015
 #2
avatar+130536 
+5
Best Answer

Notice that the first and last terms = 2008

And notice that the second term and the next-to-the-last term  = -2 - 2206 = -2008

And there are 1002 pair-wise additions like this that will sum to "0"

That leaves three "middle" terms, 1003 - 1004 + 1005 = 1004....and that's the sum

CPhill Jan 25, 2015

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