Calculating the Sum of Natural Numbers: A Step-by-Step Guide
To tackle this problem, you’ll need a solid understanding of Python programming concepts, including if-else statements and while loops. Let’s break it down.
Understanding the Problem
The goal is to calculate the sum of natural numbers up to a given number, num. We can achieve this using a combination of an if-else statement and a while loop.
The Code
“`python
num = 16 # Change this value to test the program for a different number
sum = 0
while num > 0:
sum += num
num -= 1
print(“The sum of natural numbers is:”, sum)
“`
How it Works
Initially, we set the sum to 0 and store the number in the variable num. The while loop then iterates until num becomes zero. In each iteration, we add num to the sum and decrement num by 1.
An Alternative Approach
We can also solve this problem without using a loop by employing a mathematical formula. For example, if n = 16, the sum would be (16*17)/2 = 136.
Your Turn
Modify the above program to find the sum of natural numbers using the formula below. Take it as a challenge to improve your coding skills!
Related Topics
If you’re interested in exploring more, check out our guide on “Python Program to Find Sum of Natural Numbers Using Recursion”.