2020 · Q12
What is the value of 1/(1+√2) + 1/(√2+√3) + 1/(√3+√4) + … + 1/(√99+√100)?
Elementary MathematicsNumber System
- A1
- B5
- C9
- D10
Explanation
Each term 1/(sqrt(k+1)+sqrt(k)) rationalises to sqrt(k+1)-sqrt(k), so the sum telescopes to sqrt(100)-sqrt(1) = 10-1 = 9. Hence option (C). The distractors 1, 5 and 10 come from stopping the telescoping early or mis-simplifying a middle term.