Question

total = 0
for i in range(0, some upper bound):
    total += i

Sorry if this is basic but I have a lot of these and they’re taking up more room than is comfortable.

Answer 1

total = sum(range(upper))

or

total = upper * (upper - 1) / 2

The first one is Python, the second one Gauss.

EDIT: When not starting at zero:

total = sum(range(lower, upper))

or, again according to Gauss, do the same with upper and substract the same for lower:

total = upper * (upper - 1) / 2 - lower * (lower - 1) / 2

If you are on Python 2.x, replace all range with xrange.