Question

The sum of 4 consecutive odd numbers is 40.
What is the second number in this sequence?

Answer 1

9 is the second number in this sequence

Explanation:

So if n is the first integer in this sequence, then the following are true of the sequence of consecutive odd numbers (just means the odd integer right after):

First integer: n

Second integer: n+2

Third integer: n+4

Fourth integer: n+6

-------------------------------

Sum of these integers are 4n+12=40

Subtract 12 on both sides: 4n =28

Divide both sides by 4: n =7

So first integer 7

Second integer: 9

Third integer: 11

Fourth integer: 13

When you add these up you do get 40!

Answer 2

Hello There!

Let’s say that our first number is x. We know, two consecutive odd numbers have difference of 2.

Now,

x + (x+2) + (x+2+2) + (x+2+2+2) = 40

Or, 4x + 12 = 40

Or, 4x = 40 - 12 = 28

Or, x = 28/4 = 7

The second odd number in the sequence = x+2 = 7+2 = 9.