1996 AMC 8 Problem 16

Attempt Problem 16 of the 1996 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1996 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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16.

What is the value of the following expression?
1−2−3+4+5−6−7+8+9−10−11+12+13−⋯+1992+1993−1994−1995+1996 \begin{aligned} &1 - 2 - 3 + 4 + 5 - 6 - 7 \\ &\quad {}+ 8 + 9 - 10 - 11 + 12 \\ &\quad {}+ 13 - \cdots + 1992 \\ &\quad {}+ 1993 - 1994 \\ &\quad {}- 1995 + 1996 \end{aligned}
−998-998
−1-1
00
11
998998
Answer: C
Concepts:summationpairing and grouping
Small hint:
Group the terms in blocks of four starting from the first: (1−2−3+4),(1 - 2 - 3 + 4), (5−6−7+8),(5 - 6 - 7 + 8), and so on
Big hint:
Each block of four sums to 0;0; check that the 19961996 terms divide evenly into such blocks
Solution:
Grouping in blocks of four gives 1−2−3+4=0,1 - 2 - 3 + 4 = 0, 5−6−7+8=0,5 - 6 - 7 + 8 = 0, and so on.
There are 19964=499\frac{1996}{4} = 499 such blocks, each equal to 0,0, so the total is 0.0.
Thus, the correct answer is C .
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