SOLUTION: How many term of the series 19+17+15........... must be taken in order to get sum 91?

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Question 810434: How many term of the series 19+17+15........... must be taken in order to get sum 91?
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Two ways.  By listing and adding and by formula.

 19
+17
 36
+15
 51
+13
 64
+11
 75
+ 9
 84
+ 7
 91

Answer: 7 terms

By algebra:

This is an arithmetic series with first term = a1 = 19 and 
common difference d=-2.  We want the sum Sn to = 91, so we
substitute in

Sn = [2a1 + (n-1)d]

and solve for n

91 = [2(19) + (n-1)(-2)]

91 = [2(19) + (-2)(n-1)]

91 = [38 - 2(n-1)]

91 = [38 - 2n + 2]

91 = [40 - 2n]

91 = 20n - n²

n² - 20n + 91 = 0

(n-7)(n-13) = 0

n-7=0;  n-13=0
  n=7;     n=13

Answers:  7 terms and 13 terms.

13 is another solution because sooner or later
the sequence starts adding negative numbers and the sum 
starts coming back down and gets back to 91.

 19
+17
 36
+15
 51
+13
 64
+11
 75
+ 9
 84
+ 7
 91
+ 5
 96
+ 3
 99
+ 1
100
 -1
 99
 -3
 96
 -5
 91

Edwin

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