Carcass wrote:
Set X contains 10 consecutive integers. If the sum of the 5 smallest members of Set X is 265, then what is the sum of the 5 largest members of Set X?
(A) 290
(B) 285
(C) 280
(D) 275
(E) 270
-------ASIDE-------------------------------------------
Notice that we can write the first 10 consecutive integers as follows:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (
1 +
5), (
2 +
5), (
3 +
5), (
4 +
5), (
5 +
5)
So, the sum of the first 5 integers =
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 The sum of the last 5 integers = (
1 +
5) + (
2 +
5) + (
3 +
5) + (
4 +
5) + (
5 +
5)
=
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +
5 +
5 +
5 +
5 +
5 =
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +
25In other words, the sum of the last 5 numbers = (the sum of the first 5 numbers) +
25--------NOW ONTO THE QUESTION-----------------
The same approach can be applied to the given information.
The sum of the last 5 numbers = (the sum of the first 5 numbers) +
25= 265 +
25 = 290
Answer: A