Let the total pages are 'n'. We have
1 + 2 + 3 + .........+n = 1977
⇒ n(n+1)/2 = 1977
n (n+1) = 3954
The square nearest to 3954 is 3969.This is the square of 63. Hence, we will take n= 63.
Therefore, sum of the pages= n(n+1)/2 = 63*64/2= 2016
Missing number = 2016-1977 =39.
Now, we have to think of 2 consecutive numbers whose sum is 39.
x+x+1=39 ⇒ ×= 19, x+1= 20