To find the sum of the whole numbers from 1 to 520, we can use the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series:

$S_n = \frac{n}{2} \times (a + l)$

where:

• $S_n$ is the sum of the first $n$ terms,
• $a$ is the first term (which is 1 in this case),
• $l$ is the last term (which is 520 in this case),
• $n$ is the number of terms.

In this case:

• $a = 1$,
• $l = 520$,
• $n = 520$ (because the numbers are from 1 to 520).

Now, applying the formula:

$S_{520} = \frac{520}{2} \times (1 + 520)$ $S_{520} = 260 \times 521$ $S_{520} = 135,460$

So, the sum of the whole numbers from 1 to 520 is 135,460.

Would you like more details or have any questions about this process?

Here are 5 related questions for further exploration:

1. What is the sum of the first 100 positive integers?
2. How can we prove the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series?
3. What happens if we calculate the sum of an arithmetic series with a common difference of 2?
4. How do we find the sum of even or odd numbers between 1 and 520?
5. What is the sum of numbers from 1 to $n$ for $n = 1000$?

Tip: You can also calculate sums like this quickly using a calculator, but understanding the formula helps you solve larger problems manually!