Can we solve this basis the mean?

Hi shibsriz,

This question can be solved in a number of different ways, but it's built around an interest math pattern involving consecutive integers:

We know that we're dealing with 7 consecutive odd integers and that the sum of the 5 LARGEST is -185. This tells us that all of the integers are negative.

I'm going to call the 5 largest consecutive odds:

X, X+2, X+4, X+6 and X+8

These 5 integers sum to -185

We're asked for the sum of the 5 SMALLEST numbers in that sequence, so we'll need:

X, X+2, X+4 and the two integers that come BEFORE the X: X-2 and X-4

Compare these two sets of numbers:
X, X+2, X+4, X+6 and X+8
X, X+2, X+4, X-4 and X-2

What do they differ by? Look at the last two terms in each set….

The difference is 2(-10) = -20

So the sum of the 5 SMALLEST numbers in the sequence is -185 - 20 = -205

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich