I’ve always seen it explained as (100+0) + (99+1) + (98+2) + (97+3) + …
So you basically have 50 pairs of numbers that all equal 100. So 5000 right? But there is one number that doesnt have a pair to make 100. Which is 50. Obviously there arent two 50s to make 100. So its added by itself. 5050.
Its the same as the summation of 1 to 10. (0+10) + (1+9) + (2+8) + (3+7) + (4+6) + 5. Its 55.
I never made it far enough in math to understand this.
I’ve always seen it explained as (100+0) + (99+1) + (98+2) + (97+3) + …
So you basically have 50 pairs of numbers that all equal 100. So 5000 right? But there is one number that doesnt have a pair to make 100. Which is 50. Obviously there arent two 50s to make 100. So its added by itself. 5050.
Its the same as the summation of 1 to 10. (0+10) + (1+9) + (2+8) + (3+7) + (4+6) + 5. Its 55.
This is how I used to think about it too, back when I didn’t even know what a natural number was
Addition?
There’s a nice book about this: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57007645-thinking-better so you can learn.
I… haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my list. I’ve only listened to some interviews with the author about it.