Question

The sum of five consecutive numbers is -65. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

`-15,-14,-13,-12,` and `-11`

Explanation:

Five consecutive numbers can be written as follows.

The first number: `x`
The second number: `x+1`
The third number: `x+2`
The fourth number: `x+3`
The fifth number: `x+4`.

Now we add them up because we know the sum of the numbers is `-65`.

`x+(x+1)+(x+2)+(x+3)+(x+4)=-65`

This reduces to

`5x+10=-65`

Subtract 10 from both sides

`5x=-75`

Divide 5 from both sides

`x=-15`

Remember `x` is our starting number, so we add one for each number that follows. `-15,-14,-13,-12,` and `-11`.