Question

The sum of 5 consecutive even numbers is 250. What is the fourth number in this sequence?

Answer 1

Our fourth number is 52.

Explanation:

Let our first even number be x.

Then the second even number must be (x + 2), the third (x + 4), fourth (x + 6), and the fifth (x + 8).

They sum to 250. Hence:

`x+(x+2)+(x+4)+(x+6)+(x+8)=250`

Solve for x. Combine like terms:

`5x+20=250`

Subtract 20 from both sides:

`5x=230`

And divide both sides by five. Hence:

`x=46`

Thus, our sequence is 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54.

Hence, our fourth number is 52.