# Count ways to express a number as sum of consecutive numbers in C++

C++Server Side ProgrammingProgramming

Given an integer n as input. The goal is to find the number of ways in which we can represent ‘num’ as the sum of two or more consecutive natural numbers. For example, if n is 3 it can be represented as sum ( 1+2 ) so total 1 way.

For Example

## Input

num=6

## Output

Count of ways to express a number as sum of consecutive numbers are: 1

## Explanation

The ways in which we can express ‘num’ as sum of consecutive natural
numbers: 1+2+3

## Input

num=19

## Output

Count of ways to express a number as sum of consecutive numbers are: 1

## Explanation

The ways in which we can express ‘num’ as sum of consecutive natural
numbers: 9+10

Approach used in the below program is as follows

In this approach we will represent the number as the sum of ( a + a+1 + a+2…..+ a+i ).

Which becomes (a)(L+1) times + 1+2+3+4…+i = a*(i+1) + i*(i+1)/2. (sum of i natural numbers) num=a*(i+1) + i*(i+1)/2.a= [ num − (i)*(i+1)/2 ] / (i+1)

We will do this for i=1 to i*(i+1)/2 is less than num.

• Take an integer num as input.

• Function sum_consecutive(int num) takes a num and returns the count of ways to express ‘num’ as sum of consecutive natural numbers.

• Take the initial count as 0.

• Take temporary variable res as float.

• Using for loop traverse from i=1 to i*(i+1)/2 < num.

• Calculate the value [ num − (i)*(i+1)/2 ] / (i+1) and store in res.

• If res is integer ( res − (int)res is 0 ) then increment count.

• At the end we have count as ways in which num can be represented as the sum of consecutive natural numbers.

• Return count as result.

## Example

Live Demo

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
int sum_consecutive(int num){
int count = 0;
int temp = num * 2;
float res;
for (int i = 1; i * (i + 1) < temp; i++){
int store = i + 1;
res = (1.0 * num−(i * (i + 1)) / 2) / store;
float check = res − (int)res;
if(check == 0.0){
count++;
}
}
return count;
}
int main(){
int num = 20;
cout<<"Count of ways to express a number as sum of consecutive numbers are: "<<sum_consecutive(num) << endl;
return 0;
}

## Output

If we run the above code it will generate the following output −

Count of ways to express a number as sum of consecutive numbers are: 1
Published on 05-Jan-2021 10:43:53