Consider the following statements:
- 1.The sum of 5 consecutive integers can be 100.
- 2.The product of three consecutive natural numbers can be equal to their sum.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Five consecutive integers add to five times the middle one, so 18 to 22 give 100. And 1, 2, 3 have product 6 and sum 6, so both statements are correct.
- Five consecutive integers add to 5 × (middle one); 5 × 20 = 100, e.g. 18 + 19 + 20 + 21 + 22 = 100. Statement 1 is correct.
- 1 × 2 × 3 = 6 and 1 + 2 + 3 = 6. Statement 2 is correct.
- Both statements are correct.
- ✓ 1. 18 + 19 + 20 + 21 + 22 = 100.
- ✓ 2. 1, 2, 3: product 6 = sum 6.
Remember · A 'can be' statement is proved by one example; try the smallest numbers first.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·