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Dear Buenel,


You have mentioned in the solution that

5x+20 is the "sum of five smallest" but isn't it the "Sum of five Largest" because we are dealing with negative numbers (i.e. X is negative)

If this is the case then the answer would be -175.

Please assist.
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WillGetIt
Dear Buenel,


You have mentioned in the solution that

5x+20 is the "sum of five smallest" but isn't it the "Sum of five Largest" because we are dealing with negative numbers (i.e. X is negative)

If this is the case then the answer would be -175.

Please assist.

Our 7 consecutive odd integers are: \(x\), \(x+2\), \(x+4\), \(x+6\), \(x+8\), \(x+10\), \(x+12\).

Let me ask you a question, which 5 of them are the smallest? Aren't those \(x\), \(x+2\), \(x+4\), \(x+6\) and \(x+8\)? What difference does it make whether x is negative or positive??
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A relatively easier method to lessen calculation:

Let the consecutive odd numbers be n-6, n-4, n-2, n, n+2, n+4, n+6

Given, n-2 + n + n+2 + n+4 + n+6 = -185
=> 5n = -195

Therefore, n-6 + n-4 + n-2 + n + n+2 = 5n -10 = -195 - 10 = -205. Thus solved :)
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here sum is negative https://gmatclub.com/chat Sum of largest number should not be last 5 but a,a+4,........Then answer is -165 Where am I wrong??? I mean clearly a is negative,and in negative numbers smaller is larger.Please reply ??
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here sum is negative https://gmatclub.com/chat Sum of largest number should not be last 5 but a,a+4,........Then answer is -165 Where am I wrong??? I mean clearly a is negative,and in negative numbers smaller is larger.Please reply ??

The integers are: {x, x+2, x+4, x+6, x+8, x+10, x+12} = {-45, -43, -41, -39, -37, -35, -33}.

The five largest there are {x+4, x+6, x+8, x+10, x+12} = {-41, -39, -37, -35, -33}. The sum = -185.
The five smallest there are {x, x+2, x+4, x+6, x+8} = {-45, -43, -41, -39, -37}. The sum = -205.

Hope it's clear.
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I used easy numbers to plug in and solve. I started at -1,-3,-5,-7,-9,-11,-13. The smallest 5 numbers are -1,-3,-5,-7,-9. The largest 5 numbers are -5,-7,-9,-11,-13. Therefore, -1,-3 and -11,-13 are the only different numbers in those two sets. The difference between those 4 numbers are 20. Then I just add 20 to 185 and I got 205. Done.
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The sum is -ve so shudn't we take numbers as x, x-2,x-4,x-6,x-8,x-10,x-12?? In that case the 5 largest numbers are x,x-2,x-4,x-6 and x-8 and their sum equals -185. hence 5x-20=-185 and x=-31. Accordingly the sum of 5 smallest numbers comes out to be -195.

Where m i going WRONG??
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pankajpatwari
The sum is -ve so shudn't we take numbers as x, x-2,x-4,x-6,x-8,x-10,x-12?? In that case the 5 largest numbers are x,x-2,x-4,x-6 and x-8 and their sum equals -185. hence 5x-20=-185 and x=-31. Accordingly the sum of 5 smallest numbers comes out to be -195.

Where m i going WRONG??


First of all, it does not matter whether you take 7 integers to be x, x + 2, ..., x + 12 or x-12, x-10, ..., x.

Next, from x + x - 2 + x - 4 + x - 6 + x - 8 = -185 it follows that x = -33, not -31. If you plug x = -33, you'll get the correct answer.
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Bunuel,

arent`t odd/even numbers positive only?
how can they sum to a negative number?

thank you
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Bunuel,

arent`t odd/even numbers positive only?
how can they sum to a negative number?

thank you

An even number is an integer that is "evenly divisible" by 2, i.e., divisible by 2 without a remainder. So, ..., -4, -2, 0, 2, 4, ... are all even integers.

An odd number is an integer that is not evenly divisible by 2. So, ..., -3, -1, 1, 3, 5, ... are all odd integers.
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I have edited the question and the solution by adding more details to enhance its clarity. I hope it is now easier to understand.
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If set A consists of 7 consecutive odd integers and the sum of the 5 largest integers in set A is -185, what is the sum of the 5 smallest integers in set A?
A={x,x+2,x+4,x+6,x+8,x+10,x+12}
=>x+4+x+6+x+8+x+10+x+12=-185<=>5x+40=-185<=>x=-45
=>x+x+2+x+4+x+6+x+8=5x+20=-45*5+20=-205 =>D
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Let 5 largest integers be x-4, x-2, x, x+2, x+4

Total = 5x = -185....implies, x = -37.

Thus, our sequence is -41, -39, -37, -35, -33......the smaller two numbers are -43 and -45.

We can either add -45, -43, -41, -39 and -37 or we can see that -35 to -45 and -33 to -43, both have a difference of 10. So, the sum will be (-185) + (-10) + (- 10) = -205.
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Sum of 5 largest integers in Set A = -185

5x = -185, x = -37

Mean of the 5 largest integers is -37, so the sequence, if consecutive, must be -41, -39, -37, -35, -33

As the sequence is 7 consecutive odd integers and these are the largest, the smallest two must be (-41 - 2) and (-41 - 4) or -43 and -45

5 smallest is therefore -45, -43, -41, -39, -37
if x = -41 here 5x must be -205

Answer - D
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I like the solution - it’s helpful.
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