The average of the four consecutive odd numbers is 16. What is the third number in the descending order?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 15
Consecutive odd numbers differ by 2, so four of them can be written as \(x,\ x+2,\ x+4,\ x+6\). Their average is the middle value, halfway between the second and the third.
Sum \(=4\times16=64\)
\(4x+12=64\), so \(x=13\)
The numbers are 13, 15, 17, 19
In descending order: 19, 17, 15, 13; the third is 15
Tip: 17 (Option 3) is the third number in ascending order; the question asks for descending order.