Sum of Sums first n natural numbers

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

Given a positive integer n. The task is to find the sum of the sum of first n natural number.


Examples: 

Input: n = 3
Output: 10
Explanation: 
Sum of first natural number: 1
Sum of first and second natural number: 1 + 2 = 3
Sum of first, second and third natural number = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6
Sum of sum of first three natural number = 1 + 3 + 6 = 10

Input: n = 2
Output: 4

Try It Yourself
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Sum of Natural Numbers is represented by Triangular Numbers. A simple solution is to one by one add triangular numbers. 
 

C++
/* CPP program to find sum
 series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
and then find its sum*/
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Function to find the sum of series
int seriesSum(int n)
{
    int sum = 0;
    for (int i=1; i<=n; i++)
       sum += i*(i+1)/2;
    return sum;
}

// Driver code
int main()
{
    int n = 4;
    cout << seriesSum(n);
    return 0;
}
Java
// Java program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum*/
import java.io.*;

class GFG {
        
    // Function to find the sum of series
    static int seriesSum(int n)
    {
        int sum = 0;
        for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++)
        sum += i * (i + 1) / 2;
        return sum;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void main (String[] args) 
    {
        int n = 4;
        System.out.println(seriesSum(n));
        
    }
}

// This article is contributed by vt_m
Python3
# Python3 program to find sum
# series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
# and then find its sum.

# Function to find the sum of series
def seriessum(n):
    
    sum = 0
    for i in range(1, n + 1):
        sum += i * (i + 1) / 2
    return sum
    
# Driver code
n = 4
print(seriessum(n))

# This code is Contributed by Azkia Anam.
C#
// C# program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum*/
using System;

class GFG {

    // Function to find the sum of series
    static int seriesSum(int n)
    {
        int sum = 0;
        
        for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++)
            sum += i * (i + 1) / 2;
            
        return sum;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void Main()
    {
        int n = 4;
        
        Console.WriteLine(seriesSum(n));
    }
}

// 
JavaScript
<script>

// javascript program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum*/

    // Function to find the sum of series
    function seriesSum(n) {
        var sum = 0;
        for (i = 1; i <= n; i++)
            sum += i * ((i + 1) / 2);
        return sum;
    }

    // Driver code
    
        var n = 4;
        document.write(seriesSum(n));


// This code contributed by Rajput-Ji 

</script>
PHP
<?php
// PHP program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum

// Function to find 
// the sum of series
function seriesSum($n)
{
    $sum = 0;
    for ($i = 1; $i <= $n; $i++)
        $sum += $i * ($i + 1) / 2;
    return $sum;
}

// Driver code
$n = 4;
echo(seriesSum($n));

// This code is contributed by Ajit.
?>

Output
20

Time Complexity: O(N), for traversing from 1 till N to calculate the required sum.
Auxiliary Space: O(1), as constant extra space is required.


An efficient solution is to use direct formula n(n+1)(n+2)/6
Mathematically, we need to find, Sum(((i * (i + 1))/2)), where 1 <= i <= n 
So, lets solve this summation, 
 

Sum = ? ((i * (i + 1))/2), where 1 <= i <= n
= (1/2) * ? (i * (i + 1))
= (1/2) * ? (i2 + i)
= (1/2) * (? i2 + ? i)

We know ? i2 = n * (n + 1) * (2*n + 1) / 6 and
? i = n * ( n + 1) / 2.
Substituting the value, we get,
Sum = (1/2) * ((n * (n + 1) * (2*n + 1) / 6) + (n * ( n + 1) / 2))
= n * (n + 1)/2 [(2n + 1)/6 + 1/2]
= n * (n + 1) * (n + 2) / 6


Below is the implementation of the above approach: 
 

C++
/* CPP program to find sum
 series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
and then find its sum*/
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Function to find the sum of series
int seriesSum(int n)
{
    return (n * (n + 1) * (n + 2)) / 6; 
}

// Driver code
int main()
{
    int n = 4;
    cout << seriesSum(n);
    return 0;
}
Java
// java program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum
import java.io.*;

class GFG 
{
    // Function to find the sum of series
    static int seriesSum(int n)
    {
        return (n * (n + 1) * (n + 2)) / 6; 
    }

   // Driver code
    public static void main (String[] args) {
        
        int n = 4;
        System.out.println( seriesSum(n));
        
    }
}

// This article is contributed by vt_m
Python3
# Python 3 program to find sum
# series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
# and then find its sum*/

# Function to find the sum of series
def seriesSum(n):

    return int((n * (n + 1) * (n + 2)) / 6)


# Driver code
n = 4
print(seriesSum(n))

# This code is contributed by Smitha.
C#
// C# program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum
using System;

class GFG {
    
    // Function to find the sum of series
    static int seriesSum(int n)
    {
        return (n * (n + 1) * (n + 2)) / 6;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void Main()
    {

        int n = 4;
        
        Console.WriteLine(seriesSum(n));
    }
}

// This code is contributed by vt_m.
JavaScript
<script>
// javascript program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum

// Function to find the sum of series
function seriesSum(n)
{
    return (n * (n + 1) * (n + 2)) / 6; 
}

// Driver code
var n = 4;
document.write( seriesSum(n));

// This code is contributed by shikhasingrajput 
</script>
PHP
<?php
// PHP program to find sum
// series 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21...
// and then find its sum

// Function to find 
// the sum of series
function seriesSum($n)
{
    return ($n * ($n + 1) * 
           ($n + 2)) / 6; 
}

// Driver code
$n = 4;
echo(seriesSum($n));

// This code is contributed by Ajit.
?>

Output
20

Time Complexity: O(1), as constant operations are being performed.
Auxiliary Space: O(1), as constant extra space is required.

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