MathDB

Suppose that a positive integer

N

can be expressed as the sum of

k

consecutive positive integers

N=a+(a+1)+(a+2)+\cdots+(a+k-1)

for

k=2017

but for no other values of

k>1.

Considering all positive integers

N

with this property, what is the smallest positive integer

a

that occurs in any of these expressions?

Problem Statement