Add the smallest number with the highest number.
1 plus 500 = 501.
Do the same with the second highest and the second smallest.
2 plus 499 = 501
As you can see, all the totals equal 501. Now just divide 500 by two since you are using two unique numbers per combination.
500 divided by 2 = 250.
Now multiply the total of one combination (501) by the number of possible unique combinations (250)
501 times 250 = 125,250.
That is the sum. Not very complicated.
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The sum of the first 500 odd counting numbers is 250,000.
The sum of the first 500 counting numbers (1-500) is 125,001.
The sum of the first 500 even numbers, excluding zero, is 250,500.
The sum of the first 50 counting numbers, excluding zero, is 1,251.
The sum of the first six counting numbers (1-6) is 19.
The sum of the first 10 counting numbers (1-10) is 51.
It is 155 greater.
The sum of the first 100 counting numbers (1-100) is 5,001.
4990
thousands
The sum of the first 500 odd numbers is 250,000.
210