When writing a program to calculate the sum of a natural number, it is important to understand the basics of how to code it. This article will provide an overview of how to write a program that reads a natural number n and determines the sum of s = 12 + 23 + 34 + … + n(n + 1).
Establishing the Program
The first step in writing the program is to establish the program structure. This includes setting up the variables and the loop.
The variable n represents the number that is read from the user. The variable s represents the sum of the numbers and is initialized to 0. The loop will be used to calculate the sum of the numbers from 1 to n.
Computing the Sum
The loop will iterate from 1 to n and will use the formula s = s + i*(i + 1) to calculate the sum. The loop will start with the value of i being 1. The loop will then iterate until the value of i is equal to n. Each time the loop iterates, the value of s will be updated with the new value calculated using the formula.
Once the loop has finished iterating, the program will print out the sum of the numbers.
Writing a program to calculate the sum of a natural number is not a difficult task, as long as the basics of programming are understood. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to write a program that reads a natural number n and determines the sum of s = 12 + 23 + 34 + … + n(n + 1).
Writing programs is a key part of computer science, and understanding how to write a program that reads in a natural number N and determines the sum of 1*2+2*3+3*4+…+N*(N+1) can be an important skill. In this article, we will discuss the basics of writing such a program.
At its simplest, the program requires only basic math skills, though more sophisticated programming techniques may be required if more complex equations need to be solved. The idea is to input a natural number N, then calculate and display the sum of the expression 1*2+2*3+3*4+…+N*(N+1).
First, the program needs to read in the N, which is a natural number. Depending on the language and environment, the program may need to check to make sure the input is valid, as any illegal input may cause errors. Once the N value is read, the program can start looping and calculate the expression.
A loop is needed to calculate each term of the expression. The loop’s counter should start with the value 1, and should increment by 1 each time. Inside the loop, the expression should be calculated by multiplying the current loop counter by its successor. The result of the expression should be saved in a variable, which can be summed up with the total of the previous value. Once the loop has completed, the user will see the total sum of the expression.
Though this seems like a relatively simple program, it can be a great starting point for those wanting to learn more about programming. It can also be used as a primer for more complex programming equations, such as solving for the roots of a quadratic equation. For those wishing to explore the basics of programming further, this program is an excellent starting point.