Question

The sum of 5 consecutive numbers is -5. What is the largest out of the numbers?

Answer 1

We can say that x is the largest number.

So the sum is x + (x - 1) + (x - 2) + (x - 3) + (x - 4) = -5

Now solve for x:

x + x + x + x + x - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 = -5

5x - 10 = -5

5x = 5

x = 1

So the largest number is 1.

Check: 1 + 0 + -1 + -2 + -3   =   -2 + -3   =   -5 so 1 is correct.