An algebra problem by Yong Hao Tham

Algebra Level 3

1 3 + 1 6 + 1 10 + 1 15 + 1 21 + + 1 300 = ? \large \dfrac13 + \dfrac16 + \dfrac1{10} + \dfrac1{15} + \dfrac1{21} + \cdots +\dfrac1{300} = \, ?

23 25 \frac{23}{25} 1 1 22 25 \frac{22}{25} 24 25 \frac{24}{25}

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1 solution

The denominators of this series are of the form n ( n + 1 ) 2 \dfrac{n(n + 1)}{2} from n = 2 n = 2 to n = 24 n = 24 . The desired sum is then

n = 2 24 2 n ( n + 1 ) = 2 n = 2 24 ( 1 n 1 n + 1 ) = 2 ( 1 2 1 25 ) = 2 ( 25 2 ) 50 = 23 25 \displaystyle\sum_{n=2}^{24} \dfrac{2}{n(n + 1)} = 2\sum_{n=2}^{24} \left(\dfrac{1}{n} - \dfrac{1}{n + 1}\right) = 2\left(\dfrac{1}{2} - \dfrac{1}{25}\right) = 2*\dfrac{(25 - 2)}{50} = \boxed{\dfrac{23}{25}} ,

where the last sum telescopes, leaving us with just the first element of the first term and the second element of the last term.

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