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Can you find 5 consecutive (counting upwards) numbers that add up to 80?

Scroll down or click for a hint, or the answer!

 

Brainteaser hint

As a starting point, try:
80 ÷ 5 = 16

That means:
16 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 16 = 80
Next, think about how to make these consecutive numbers.

Brainteaser answer

To start with, we can divide 80 by 5 to get 16. This reveals 5 equal numbers that add to 80:
16 + 16 + 16 + 16 + 16 = 80

To make them consecutive, we’ll need to subtract from some numbers and add to others. To keep the total the same, be sure to add and subtract the same amount.

To start with, try adding and subtracting 1. To fit the remaining numbers into the sequence, add and subtract 2:
(16 – 2) + (16 – 1) + 16 + (16 + 1) + (16 + 2) = 80
14 + 15 + 16 + 17 + 18 = 80

If you used a different method to solve this brainteaser, share your ideas below!