Primary level maths problem, please help

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annar
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Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by annar » Sat Sep 17, 2016 8:40 am

Hey guys,
I am no maths genius and need help with this itsy bitsy problem. I know I can easily find the solution by adding them one by one but I was wondering if someone can come up with a quicker solution to this problem, some sort of a formula I guess.

This is the problem:

A train will hold 78 passengers. If it starts out empty and picks up one passenger at the first stop, two passengers at the second stop, 3 passengers at the third stop and so on. After how many stops will it be full?

Thanks, appreciate the help

aritra barua
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Joined:Sun Dec 11, 2016 2:01 pm

Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by aritra barua » Sun Jan 22, 2017 9:06 pm

Well,this simply reduces the problem to the sum of n consecutive positive integers,which follows the equation :n(n+1)=156,simply factoring the expression,we find n=12 and n cannot be -13 as it is a negative integer.This just solves our problem that at the 12th stop,the bus would be full... :lol:

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M. M. Fahad Joy
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Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by M. M. Fahad Joy » Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:39 pm

How have you solve the problem? Can someone suggest me?
You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

samiul_samin
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Joined:Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:32 pm

Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by samiul_samin » Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:43 pm

M. M. Fahad Joy wrote:
Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:39 pm
How have you solve the problem? Can someone suggest me?
Solution
$1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12=78$

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M. M. Fahad Joy
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Joined:Sun Jan 28, 2018 11:43 pm

Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by M. M. Fahad Joy » Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:19 am

samiul_samin wrote:
Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:43 pm
M. M. Fahad Joy wrote:
Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:39 pm
How have you solve the problem? Can someone suggest me?
Solution
$1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12=78$

No, I said by the rules on N(N+1)
You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

samiul_samin
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Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by samiul_samin » Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:24 am

Here is the Rule
$1+2+3+... ... ...+n=n(n+1)/2$
It can be asily proved by Induction

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M. M. Fahad Joy
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Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by M. M. Fahad Joy » Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:05 am

samiul_samin wrote:
Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:24 am
Here is the Rule
$1+2+3+... ... ...+n=n(n+1)/2$
It can be asily proved by Induction
Thanks, understood. But how do you solve the equation?

n(n+1) = 156
You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

samiul_samin
Posts:1007
Joined:Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:32 pm

Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by samiul_samin » Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:26 am

Hint
Use Middle term factor
Answer
$n(n+1)=156\Rightarrow n^2+n-156=0
\Rightarrow n^2-12n+13n-156=0
\Rightarrow n(n-12)+13(n-12)=0
\Rightarrow (n-12)(n+13)=0$

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M. M. Fahad Joy
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Joined:Sun Jan 28, 2018 11:43 pm

Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by M. M. Fahad Joy » Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:29 am

samiul_samin wrote:
Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:26 am
Hint
Use Middle term factor
Answer
$n(n+1)=156\Rightarrow n^2+n-156=0
\Rightarrow n^2-12n+13n-156=0
\Rightarrow n(n-12)+13(n-12)=0
\Rightarrow (n-12)(n+13)=0$
How can I get the rate of 'n'
You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

samiul_samin
Posts:1007
Joined:Sat Dec 09, 2017 1:32 pm

Re: Primary level maths problem, please help

Unread post by samiul_samin » Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:34 am

M. M. Fahad Joy wrote:
Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:29 am
samiul_samin wrote:
Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:26 am
Hint
Use Middle term factor
Answer
$n(n+1)=156\Rightarrow n^2+n-156=0
\Rightarrow n^2-12n+13n-156=0
\Rightarrow n(n-12)+13(n-12)=0
\Rightarrow (n-12)(n+13)=0$
How can I get the rate of 'n'
$n=12,-13,n>0$ so,$n=12$

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