To prove the smallest number that is the sum for all three cases:
a) the 5 consecutive numbers are n, n+1, n+2, n+3, n+4 where n is the first number; their sum is 5n+10, n=0,1,2,3,4,...; possible sums are 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ...
b) the two consecutive odd numbers are m, m+2 where m is the smaller odd numbers; their sum is 2m+2, m=1,3,5,...; possible values are 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, ...
c) the three consecutive even numbers are x, x+2, x+4; their sum is 3x+6, x=0,2,4,6,...; possible values are 6, 15, 24, 33, 42, 51, 60, 69, ...
The first number that appears in all three lists is 60, so 60 is the lowest number that meets all three criteria.
Mar 13 2009, 11:57 PM