GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE PS

Solution:

We must determine the sum of the consecutive integers from -25 to 23, inclusive. To determine the sum we can use the formula sum = average x quantity.

To determine quantity, the number of consecutive integers, we compute the following:

quantity = largest number – smallest number + 1

quantity = 23 – (-25) + 1 = 23 + 25 + 1 = 49

Next we must determine the average. Since we have a set of evenly-spaced integers we can determine the average using the formula:

average = (largest number + smallest number)/2.

average = (-25 + 23)/2 = -2/2 = -1

Finally we can determine the sum:

sum = quantity x average

sum = 49 x -1 = -49.

Alternate solution:

We must determine the sum of the consecutive integers from -25 to 23 inclusive. However, if we add -23 and 23, the sum will be 0, and so will be the sum of -22 and 22, -21 and 21, and so on. Therefore, the sum of each of these pairs of numbers (as long as they are opposites) is 0. The only numbers left that are not paired opposites are -25, -24 and 0. So the sum of all the integers from -25 to 23, inclusive, is the same as the sum of -25, -24 and 0, which is (-25) + (-24) + 0 = -49.

Answer: D

About The Author

Scott Woodbury-Stewart is the founder & CEO of Target Test Prep. A passionate teacher who is deeply invested in the success of his students, Scott began his career teaching physics, chemistry, math, and biology. Since then, he has spent more than a decade helping students gain entry into the world’s top business schools, logging 10,000+ hours of GMAT, EA, GRE and SAT instruction. Scott also served as lead content developer and curriculum architect for the revolutionary courses Target Test Prep GMAT, Target Test Prep EA, Target Test Prep GRE and Target Test Prep SAT Quant.