Subject: General Aptitude · Chapter: Problems on Numbers · Exam: · Marks: · Difficulty:
What is the third number of 8 consecutive real numbers? (M.A.T., 2001) I. Product of the numbers is 34,459,425. II. Sum of numbers is 84.
Answer
SELF-PRACTICE — the source book printed no answer.
Nothing is invented here, so this question has no answer on record.
Explanation
Let the 8 consecutive real numbers be $x, (x+1), (x+2), (x+3), (x+4), (x+5), (x+6)$ and $(x+7)$. I. gives, $x(x+1)(x+2)(x+3)(x+4)(x+5)(x+6)(x+7)=34459425$. This equation cannot be solved for $x$. II. gives, $x+(x+1)+(x+2)+(x+3)+(x+4)+(x+5)+(x+6)+(x+7)=84 \Leftrightarrow 8x+28=84 \Leftrightarrow 8x=56 \Leftrightarrow x=7$. ∴ Third number $=x+2=7+2=9$. Thus, II alone gives the answer. ∴ The correct answer is (b).
Explanation as extracted from the printed page; notation may be imperfect.