Which of the following integers can be written as both the sum of 5 consecutive odd integers and 7 consecutive odd integers?
A. 49
B. 70
C. 140
D. 215
E. 525
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For any evenly spaced set:aishwaryav12 wrote:Which of the following integers can be written as both the sum of 5 consecutive odd integers and 7 consecutive odd integers?
A. 49
B. 70
C. 140
D. 215
E. 525
sum = (number)(median)
We can PLUG IN THE ANSWERS, which represent the sum.
Since the number of integers can be 5 or 7, the sum must be a multiple of both 5 and 7.
Eliminate A, which is not divisible by 5.
Eliminate D, which is not divisible by 7.
The equation in blue can be rephrased as follows:
median = sum/number
Since all of the integers must be odd, the correct answer must yield an odd value for the median.
If B is the sum of 7 consecutive odd integers, we get:
median = sum/number = 70/7 = 10.
Since the yielded median is not odd, eliminate B.
If D is the sum of 7 consecutive odd integers, we get:
median = sum/number = 140/7 = 20.
Since the yielded median is not odd, eliminate D.
The correct answer is E.
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$$?\,\,\,:\,\,\,\,\sum\nolimits_5 {\,{\rm{consecutive}}\,\,{\rm{odd}}\,\,{\rm{integers}}\,\,\,\, = \,} \,\,\,\,\sum\nolimits_7 {\,\,{\rm{consecutive}}\,\,{\rm{odd}}\,\,{\rm{integers}}} $$aishwaryav12 wrote:Which of the following integers can be written as both the sum of 5 consecutive odd integers and 7 consecutive odd integers?
A. 49
B. 70
C. 140
D. 215
E. 525
> 5 consecutive odd integers are members of a finite arithmetic sequence, hence the middle term (one of them) is an odd integer and equal to their average.
(A) average 49/5 is not an integer, hence cannot be the middle term. Refuted.
(B) average 70/5 = 14 is not odd, hence cannot be the middle term. Refuted.
(C) average 140/5 = 28 is not odd, hence cannot be the middle term. Refuted.
> 7 consecutive odd integers are members of a finite arithmetic sequence, hence the middle term (one of them) is an odd integer and equal to their average.
(D) average 215/7 is not a multiple of 7 (210 is), hence cannot be the middle term. Refuted.
(E) is the answer by exclusion.
This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.
Regards,
Fabio.
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If a number can be written as both the sum of 5 consecutive odd integers and 7 consecutive odd integers, then it's a multiple of both 5 and 7. This eliminates choice A, 49 (since it's only a multiple of 7) and choice D, 215 (since it's only a multiple of 5). So we are left with 70, 140 and 525 to consider.aishwaryav12 wrote:Which of the following integers can be written as both the sum of 5 consecutive odd integers and 7 consecutive odd integers?
A. 49
B. 70
C. 140
D. 215
E. 525
Not only must the sum be both a multiple of 5 and 7, but the sum also has to be odd (since the sum of five odd numbers must also be odd). This eliminates answer choices B and C and we are left with E.
Answer: E
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