SOLUTION: The number 2015 can be written as the sum of two or more consecutive positive integers in seven different ways. Find the total of the smallest integers from each of the seven wa

Algebra.Com
Question 1006733: The number 2015 can be written as the sum of two or more consecutive
positive integers in seven different ways. Find the total of the
smallest integers from each of the seven ways.

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x represent the smallest integer in any case of consecutive
integers with sum 2015.

The sum of n consecutive positive integers beginning with x, 
using the sum formula for an arithmetic sequence 



with a1=x and d=1



Setting that equal to 2015



Multiplying both sides by 2 to clear the fraction
and simplifying:









, the smallest integer.

From ,

we see that n, the number of terms, and 2x+n-1 make up a factor 
pair of 4030.  

We can factor 4030 into a pair of factors the following 8 ways:


n×(2x+n-1) = 4030, x = (4030+n-n^2)/(2n) = smallest integer
----------------------------------------
1×4030             x = 2015  <--ignore since only 1 integer, we need 2 or more  
2×2015             x = 1007                 
5×806              x =  401
10×403             x =  197
13×310             x =  149
26×155             x =   65
31×130             x =   50  
62×65              x =    2
---------------------------
               total = 1871  



The total of the smallest integers x is 1871

Answer: 1841

Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS

In how many ways can the number 105 be written as the sum of two or more consecutive... (answered by MathLover1,ikleyn)
The number 42 can be written in three different ways as the sum of two or more... (answered by greenestamps)
the number 105 can be expressed as a sum of two or more consecutive positive integers in... (answered by richwmiller)
Prove that there is a positive integer that can be written as the sum of squares of... (answered by Edwin McCravy)
(a) Find the smallest positive integer which can be written as the sum of three, four,... (answered by math_helper,greenestamps)
It is possible to write 18 as the sum of two or more consecutive positive digits in two... (answered by ikleyn)
The integer 2010 cannot be written as the sum of 2 squares , but can be written as the... (answered by macston)
A partition of a positive integer n is any way of writing n as a sum of one or more... (answered by jim_thompson5910)
How many numbers from 1 to 100 (inclusive) can be written as the sum of 2+ consecutive... (answered by jim_thompson5910)