Challenge 70: Problems of Parity
Can you work out whether these sums are odd or even?
Consider the sum of the first n squares: 1+4+9+…+n2
Is the sum odd or even when n is:
a) 66? b) 92? c) 101? d) 123?
Now consider the sum of the first n Fibonacci numbers: 1+1+2+3+5+…+F(n)
[where F(i) is the ith Fibonacci number]
Is the sum odd or even when n is:
a) 66? b) 92? c) 101?
Consider a series that starts with m-1 odd numbers followed by a single even number. This pattern of m-1 odd, 1 even, repeats indefinitely.
When will the sum of the first n terms be odd? When will it be even?