Problem Solving

If J = 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + . . . 98 + 100, and K = 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + . . . + 97 + 99, then 1² - 2² + 3² - 4² + 5² - 6² + . . . . . + 97² - 98² + 99² - 100² =

A) J² - K²
B) -50(J² - K²)
C) -K - J
D) K² - J²
E) (-J - K)²

Answer: C

Source: www.gmatprepnow.com
Difficulty level: 700

Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:If J = 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + . . . 98 + 100, and K = 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + . . . + 97 + 99, then 1² - 2² + 3² - 4² + 5² - 6² + . . . . . + 97² - 98² + 99² - 100² =

A) J² - K²
B) -50(J² - K²)
C) -K - J
D) K² - J²
E) (-J - K)²

We have several differences of squares hiding in the expression 1² - 2² + 3² - 4² + 5² - 6² + . . . . . + 97² - 98² + 99² - 100²

1² - 2² + 3² - 4² + 5² - 6² + . . . . . + 97² - 98² + 99² - 100² = 1² - 2² + 3² - 4² + 5² - 6² + . . . . . + 97² - 98² + 99² - 100²
= (1 - 2)(1 + 2) + (3 - 4)(3 + 4) + (5 - 6)(5 + 6) + . . . . . + (97 - 98)(97 + 98) + (99 - 100)(99 + 100)
= (-1)(1 + 2) + (-1)(3 + 4) + (-1)(5 + 6) + . . . . . + (-1)(97 + 98) + (-1)(99 + 100)
= (-1)[(1 + 2) + (3 + 4) + (5 + 6) + . . . . . + (97 + 98) + (99 + 100)]
= (-1)(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + . . . . . 97 + 98 + 99 + 100)

IMPORTANT: within the sum, 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + . . . . . 97 + 98 + 99 + 100, we have all of the ODD integers from 1 to 99 inclusive, and we have all of the EVEN integers from 2 to 100 inclusive.

So, we can say that 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + . . . . . 97 + 98 + 99 + 100 = K + J

So, we're replace 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + . . . . . 97 + 98 + 99 + 100 with K + J.
We get: (-1)(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + . . . . . 97 + 98 + 99 + 100) = (-1)(K + J)
= -K - J

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent