The average of a list of three consecutive odd integers is 7. When a fourth positive integer, , different from the first three, is included in the list, the average of the list is an integer. What is the sum of the three smallest possible values of ?
, 2015
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Solution
We are given that three consecutive odd integers have an average of 7.
These three integers must be 5, 7 and 9.
One way to see this is to let the three integers be . (Consecutive odd integers differ by 2.)
Since the average of these three integers is 7, then their sum is .
Thus, or and so .
When is included, the average of the four integers equals their sum divided by 4, or .
This average is an integer whenever is divisible by 4.
Since 21 is 1 more than a multiple of 4, then must be 1 less than a multiple of 4 for the sum to be a multiple of 4.
The smallest positive integers that are 1 less than a multiple of 4 are 3, 7, 11, 15, 19.
Since cannot be equal to any of the original three integers 5, 7 and 9, then the three smallest possible values of are 3, 11 and 15.
The sum of these possible values is .