Bunuel
In the eight term sequence A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, the value of C is 5 and the sum of any three consecutive terms is 30. What is A + H ?
A. 17
B. 18
C. 25
D. 26
E. 43
Since C = 5, if we let A = 10, then B must be 15 so that A + B + C = 30. Now D must be 10 so that B + C + D = 30 and E must be 15 so that C + D + E = 30. If we continue the process, we have:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H as 10, 15, 5, 10, 15, 5, 10, and 15, respectively.
Therefore, A + H = 10 + 15 = 25.
(Note: We will leave to readers to try a different number for A and see that, regardless of the choice of the value of A, you will always have A + H = 25.)
Alternate Solution:
Since A + B + C = B + C + D; we have A + B + C - (B + C + D) = A + B + C - B - C - D = A - D = 0; therefore A = D. Applying the same argument, for example for B + C + D = C + D + E, we can conclude B = E and continue in the same way to obtain C = F, D = G and E = H. Since B = E = H, we have
A + B + C = 30
A + H + 5 = 30
A + H = 25
Answer: C