2020 AMC 10A Problem 8

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 8 of the 2020 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2020 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:summationpairing and grouping

Difficulty rating: 1060

8.

What is the value of 1+2+34+5+6+78++197+198+199200?\begin{align*} &1+2+3-4 +5+6+7-8\\ &+\cdots+197+198+199-200? \end{align*}

9,8009,800

9,9009,900

10,00010,000

10,10010,100

10,20010,200

Video solution:
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Written solution:

Group the terms in blocks of four: (1+2+34)+(5+6+78)++(197+198+199200)(1+2+3-4)+(5+6+7-8)+\cdots+(197+198+199-200). The jjth block is (4j3)+(4j2)+(4j1)4j=8j6(4j-3)+(4j-2)+(4j-1)-4j=8j-6.

There are 5050 blocks, so the sum is j=150(8j6)=850512650=9900\sum_{j=1}^{50}(8j-6)=8\cdot\dfrac{50\cdot51}{2}-6\cdot50=9900. Thus, B is the correct answer.

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