Unlock the Power of Java Loops: Calculating the Sum of Natural Numbers
When it comes to programming, understanding loops is essential. In this article, we’ll explore how to calculate the sum of natural numbers using two fundamental Java loops: for loop and while loop.
What are Natural Numbers?
Natural numbers, also known as positive integers, are a series of numbers starting from 1 and going up to infinity. The sum of these numbers is the result of adding all numbers from 1 to a given number. For instance, if we want to find the sum of natural numbers up to 100, we’ll add 1 + 2 + 3 +… + 100.
Using a For Loop to Calculate the Sum
One way to calculate the sum of natural numbers is by using a for loop. Here’s an example:
java
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int num = 100;
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 1; i <= num; i++) {
sum += i;
}
System.out.println("The sum of natural numbers up to " + num + " is " + sum);
}
}
This program loops from 1 to the given number (in this case, 100) and adds each number to the sum variable. The result is then printed to the console.
Alternative Approach: Using a While Loop
While a for loop is a great way to solve this problem, we can also use a while loop. Here’s the equivalent code:
java
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int num = 100;
int sum = 0;
int i = 1;
while (i <= num) {
sum += i;
i++;
}
System.out.println("The sum of natural numbers up to " + num + " is " + sum);
}
}
In this example, we need to increment the value of i inside the loop body. Although both programs produce the correct result, the for loop is generally preferred when the number of iterations is known.
Recursion: Another Way to Calculate the Sum
Did you know that you can also calculate the sum of natural numbers using recursion? Check out our article on how to do it!