The SPOORTHY CSAT Notes
One formula and its applications
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We know that, the basic formula in numbers,
Sum of first n natural numbers = 1+ 2 + 3……+n = n(n+1)/2
Note: Natural numbers starts from 1 & Whole numbers starts from 0.
Solved examples:
1. Find the unit digit of 1 + 2 + 3 + …… + 100 =?
(a) 1 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 0
Sol: Sum of first 100 natural numbers, 100(100+1)/2 = 50x 101 = 5050
So, unit (last) digit is 0 Answer is (d)
2. Find the unit digit in sum of first 99 natural numbers?
(a) 5 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 0
Sol: Sum of first 99 natural numbers,
1+ 2+ 3+ ……+ 99 = 99(99+1)/2 = 99x 50 =…0
So, unit (last) digit is 0 Answer is (d)
3. Find the unit digit in sum of first 99 whole numbers?
(a) 5 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 0
Sol: Sum of first 99 whole numbers,
0 + 1+ 2+ 3+ ……+ 98 = 1+ 2+ 3+ ……+ 98 = 98(98+1)/2 = 49x 99 =…1
So, unit (last) digit is 1 Answer is (b)
4. One page is torn from a booklet whose pages are numbered in the usual manner
starting from the first page as 1. The sum of the numbers on the remaining pages
is 195. The torn page contains which of the following numbers? (UPSC CSAT
2020)
(a) 5, 6 (b) 7, 8 (c) 9, 10 (d) 11, 12
Sol: 1 + 2 ….+n = n (n+1)/2
After missing two consecutive numbers from a Page (front and back = 2 consecutive
numbers) sum equal to 195.
So, n (n+1)/2 > 195
n(n+1) > 390
We have to guess the value of n,
n = 19, then n (n+1) = 390 & n = 20, then n (n+1) = 420
so, take n = 20 & n (n+1) = 420 then n (n+1)/2 = 210
210-195 = 15, it means from sum 15 is missing 15 = 7 + 8 Answer is (b)
5. A boy starts adding consecutive natural numbers starting with 1. After some time, he
reaches a total of 1000 when he realizes that he has made the mistake of double counting
1 number. Find the number double counted.
(a) 44 (b) 45 (c) 10 (d) 12
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The SPOORTHY CSAT Notes
Sol: A number counted for twice so actual sum must be close and less than 1000.
n (n+1)/2 <1000
We have to guess the value of n,
Say, n = 45 then sum, 45 x 46/2 = 1035 & n = 44 then sum, 44 x 45/2 = 990
1000 - 990 = 10 (So number 10 counted twice) Answer is (c)
6. The average of all the prime numbers and composite numbers up to 100 is:
(a) 51 (c) 50.50 (c) 49.50 (d) 55
Sol: (a) All prime numbers and composite numbers mean, each and every number
comes. Numbers from 2 to 100 ( Since 1 is neither prime nor composite number)
So series is 2, 3, 4, ……100 ; When consecutive numbers given average of series is
average of first and last (Smaller & Larger) numbers, Average = (First + Last numbers)/2
= (2+100)/2 = 51
(Or) from 2 to 100 sum = (1+2+3…..+100) -1 = 5050-1=5049
Average is = 5049/99 = 51
7. In the series AABABCABCDABCDE.... which letter appears at the 100th place?
(CSAT 2022)
(a) G (b) H (c) I (d) J
Sol: First step is, find out the pattern
A (One letter) AB (Two letters) ABC (Three letters) ABCD (Four letters)…..so on
1+ 2 + 3 + 4…….n = Sum = n (n+1)/2
From here onwards need to guess a value for n,
Say n=10, sum = 10x 11/2 = 55; for n =13, 13 x 14/2 = 91,
for n =14, sum =14 x 15/2 = 105.
Take n=13, so 91st letter is M (i.e. n =13), 92nd letter onwards, pattern will continue
and starts from A again.
91 + 9 =100, so 9 letters ABC…. HI, i.e., 100th letter is I. Correct answer is (c)
There are many questions based on same equation,
Whenever consecutive numbers/series/ letters added/ page numbers sum/…etc
always think about this basic formula.
Its all about how you apply formulae.
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