2018 AMC 8 Problem 5

Attempt Problem 5 of the 2018 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2018 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

5.

What is the value of 1+3+5+⋯+2017+2019−2−4−6−⋯−2016−2018?\begin{align*} &1+3+5+\cdots+2017+2019 \\ -&2-4-6-\cdots-2016-2018? \end{align*}
−1010 -1010
−1009 -1009
1008 1008
1009 1009
1010 1010
Answer: E
Concepts:arithmetic sequencepairing and grouping
Small hint:
Pair each positive odd number after 11 with the even number just before it.
Big hint:
Count how many 11’s remain after pairing.
Video solution:
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Written solution:
Rearranging the terms, notice that the expression in the question is equal to: 1+(3−2)+(5−4)+⋯+(2017−2016)+(2019−2018).\begin{align*}&1 + (3-2) + (5-4) + \cdots +\\ &(2017-2016) + (2019-2018). \end{align*} Each term is equal to 1,1, and there are 2019−12+1=1010\frac{2019-1}2+1 = 1010 terms, so the total sum is 1010⋅1=1010.1010\cdot1 = 1010.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
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