5 different negative integers add up to -20. What is the least possible value of one integer.

Question

Please help! Can you explain how to do this?

Answer 1

If you want one of the integers to be as small as possible, make the other 4 numbers as large as possible.  

 

The largest 4 negative integers are -1, -2, -3, and -4.

 

So if x is the number that we are looking for, then                                   

x + (-1) + (-2) + (-3) + (-4) = -20

 

So, x - 10 = -20

 

            x = -10