2014 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 10

The following problem is from both the 2014 AMC 12A #9 and 2014 AMC 10A #10, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

Five positive consecutive integers starting with $a$ have average $b$. What is the average of $5$ consecutive integers that start with $b$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ a+3\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ a+4\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ a+5\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ a+6\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ a+7$

Solution 1

Let $a=1$. Our list is $\{1,2,3,4,5\}$ with an average of $15\div 5=3$. Our next set starting with $3$ is $\{3,4,5,6,7\}$. Our average is $25\div 5=5$.

Therefore, we notice that $5=1+4$ which means that the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ a+4}$.

Solution 2

We are given that \[b=\frac{a+a+1+a+2+a+3+a+4}{5}\] \[\implies b =a+2\]

We are asked to find the average of the 5 consecutive integers starting from $b$ in terms of $a$. By substitution, this is \[\frac{a+2+a+3+a+4+a+5+a+6}5=a+4\]

Thus, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ a+4}$

Solution 3 (fast)

We know from experience (or logical reasoning) that the average of $5$ consecutive numbers is the $3^\text{rd}$ one or the $1^\text{st} + 2$. With the logic, we find that $b=a+2$. Therefore, $b+2=(a+2)+2=\boxed{a+4}$.

~MathFun1000

Solution 4

The list of numbers is $\left\{a,\ a+1,\ b,\ a+3,\ a+4\right\}$ so $b=a+2$. The new list is $\left\{a+2,\ a+3,\ a+4,\ a+5,\ a+6\right\}$ and the average is $a+4 \Longrightarrow \boxed{\textbf{(B) } a+4}$.

~JH. L

Video Solution (CREATIVE THINKING)

https://youtu.be/GonWHjrROzI

~Education, the Study of Everything



Video Solutions

Video Solution 1

https://youtu.be/wBdD6Ge8FuE

~savannahsolver

Video Solution 2

https://youtu.be/rJytKoJzNBY

See Also

2014 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 9
Followed by
Problem 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions
2014 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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