Question

If the mean of 5 integers is 17, what is the largest possible number if they are all positive and none are repeated?

Answer 1

hi

Answer 2

Tricky question :D
You know how to get averages?

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

sum/#of #s

Answer 5

You put it very strangely,
Just to be clear, uhh
what's the average of 3, 5, and 7?

Answer 6

5

Answer 7

Okay, good. ^^
Now let's see how to go about this question...
Hang on.

Answer 8

ok

Answer 9

Okay, I got it.
Usually, if you want a really big number to be part of a set you're trying to get the average of, you need really small numbers to balance it out :D

So, how about we have four small numbers and one really large number, and try to make them have an average of 17. Sound good?

Answer 10

ok

Answer 11

Okay, read your question, and give me the four LOWEST possible numbers that could be part of your set of five numbers.

Answer 12

ok wait

Answer 13

85,84,83,82

Answer 14

Ahem. Seriously? XD

Answer 15

16,15,14,13

Answer 16

Uhh, the infinity of numbers do not allow much room for guessing :P
C'mon...
We're talking
POSITIVE INTEGERS
and
NO REPETITIONS.

What are the four LOWEST possible numbers that fit those criteria?

Answer 17

please help me

Answer 18

I am helping you ^^
But I can only help you so much, you know.

You need to help yourself too.

I'll make it easy.

What is the LOWEST POSITIVE INTEGER?

Answer 19

0

Answer 20

But 0 is not a positive number.

Answer 21

mathmole get out

Answer 22

1

Answer 23

Be nice, now. You have a rather bad choice of people to badmouth ....

and yes, that is the lowest.

And while we'd love to have four 1's in our set, the rules don't allow for repetitions.

So what's another low positive integer we can use?

Answer 24

2

Answer 25

See the pattern?
Now, all I'm asking for are the four LOWEST positive integers.

C'mon. You know them. What are they? ^^

Answer 26

1,2,3,4,80

Answer 27

i got my answer

Answer 28

80 is the answer?

Answer 29

Is it?
Find out.
Get the average of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 80.

Is it 17?

Answer 30

its 18

Answer 31

my answer is 75

Answer 32

Wasn't so hard, now, was it? :P
Good job, anyway :D

Answer 33

thank you

Answer 34

i have another question ok

Answer 35

@terenzreignz : You did a really fine job here, especially in the way you involved URMOMA in finding the solution and beginning with very small positive numbers. Good work!

Answer 36

i will post another question

Answer 37

If you have another question, post it separately from this one, please.

Answer 38

@mathmale
Thank you ^^
I learned my lesson since I first joined up :D