Question

The sum of 4 consecutive numbers is 130, how do you find the 4 numbers?

Answer 1

Hint: The numbers that follow each other continuously in the order from smallest to largest are called consecutive numbers. For example, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on are consecutive numbers. In this question, assume the first consecutive number. Then by adding 1 we will get the remaining three numbers. One equation will be formed. Then simplify that equation. So, we will get the value of the first consecutive number. Based on that number we can get the other three numbers.

Complete step-by-step answer:
For 4 consecutive numbers,
Let us assume that the first consecutive number is x.
So, the second consecutive number is x+1.
The third consecutive number is x+2.
The fourth consecutive number is x+3.
Now, in the question, it is given that the sum of 4 consecutive numbers is 130.
Therefore,
$ \Rightarrow x + \left( {x + 1} \right) + \left( {x + 2} \right) + \left( {x + 3} \right) = 130$
Let us remove brackets.
$ \Rightarrow x + x + 1 + x + 2 + x + 3 = 130$
Apply addition on the left-hand side.
$ \Rightarrow 4x + 6 = 130$
Let us subtract both sides by -6.
$ \Rightarrow 4x + 6 - 6 = 130 - 6$
That is equal to
$ \Rightarrow 4x = 124$
Now, let us divide both sides by 4.
$ \Rightarrow \dfrac{{4x}}{4} = \dfrac{{124}}{4}$
That is equal to
$ \Rightarrow x = 31$
Hence, the first consecutive number is $x = 31$
The second consecutive number is
$ \Rightarrow x + 1 = 31 + 1$
$ \Rightarrow x + 1 = 32$
The third consecutive number is
$ \Rightarrow x + 2 = 31 + 2$
$ \Rightarrow x + 1 = 33$
The fourth consecutive number is
$ \Rightarrow x + 3 = 31 + 3$
$ \Rightarrow x + 1 = 34$

Hence, the 4 consecutive numbers are 31, 32, 33, and 34.

Note:
The consecutive numbers follow each other in order, without gaps, and from the smallest number to the largest number. To understand consecutive numbers, we will first need to understand the concept of predecessors and successors. The number that is written immediately before a number is called a predecessor. The number that is written immediately after a number is called its successor.
Fun facts: the sum of two consecutive numbers is always odd.
Example 1: $3 + 4 = 7$
Example 2: $\left( { - 8} \right) + \left( { - 9} \right) = - 17$