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Five numbers form an arithmetic sequence with a mean of 18. If the mean of the squares of the five numbers is 374, what is the greatest of the five original numbers?

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Let the five numbers which form arithmetic sequence be a-2d,a-d,a,a+d,a+2d where a is the first term and d is common difference.

Mean of these 5 numbers= 18

→ a-2d+a-d+a+a+d+a+2d = 5×18

→ 5 a= 5×18

Dividing both side by 5, we get , →a = 18

It is also given Mean of the squares of the five numbers is 374.

(a- 2 d)² + (a- d)² + a² +(a +d )² +(a+ 2 d)² = 5 × 374

→ a² + 4 d²- 4 ad +a² +d² -2 a d +a² +a² +d² +2 a d+a² + 4 d²+ 4 ad =5 × 374

→ 5 a² + 10 d²=5 × 374

→ 5 × (a² + 2 d²)=5 × 374

Dividing both sides by 5,we get

a² + 2 d²= 374

As , a=18, Substituting the value of a in above equation

→18² + 2 d²=374

→324 + 2 d²=374

→ 2 d² = 374 -324

→ 2 d²=50

Dividing both side by 2, we get

→ d²= 25

→ d² =5²

→ d = 5

The five numbers are, 18-2×5, 18 -5,18,18+5, 18 +2×5 ,= 8, 13, 18, 23, 28.

So, greatest number among these 5 numbers are 28.

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