1968 AMC 12 Problem 27

Attempt Problem 27 of the 1968 AMC 12 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 1968 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

27.

Let
Sn=1−2+3−4+⋯+(−1)n−1n. \begin{aligned} S_n&=1-2+3-4+\cdots\\ &\quad+(-1)^{n-1}n. \end{aligned}
Here n=1,n=1, 2,2, ….\ldots. Then S17+S33+S50S_{17}+S_{33}+S_{50} equals:
00
11
22
−1-1
−2-2
Answer: B
Concepts:paritysummationpairing and grouping
Small hint:
Pair terms as (1−2)+(3−4)+⋯(1-2)+(3-4)+\cdots
Big hint:
For even n,n, Sn=−n2;S_n=-\frac{n}{2}; for odd n,n, Sn=n+12S_n=\frac{n+1}{2}
Solution:
Pairing gives Sn=−n2S_n=-\frac{n}{2} for even nn and Sn=n+12S_n=\frac{n+1}{2} for odd n.n. Hence S17=9,S_{17}=9, S33=17,S_{33}=17, S50=−25,S_{50}=-25, and their sum is 1.1.
Therefore, the correct answer is B.
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