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

1 Answer
Nov 15, 2016

-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.