A man forgot the secret code to open his locker. But he remembers the following clues: Fifth number plus the third number equals fourteen. First number is one less than twice the second number. Fourth number is one more than the second number. Second number plus the third number equals ten. Sum of all five numbers is 30. Can you find out the secret code to help him out?

Why this works

To solve this riddle, we need to translate the clues into equations and then systematically determine the values of the five numbers. 1. **From the clues**, we can create the following equations: - \(5 + 3 = 14\) (which gives us \(5 + 3 = 14 \rightarrow 5 = 14 - 3\)). - \(1 = 2 \times 2 - 1\) (which gives us \(1 = 2 \times 2 - 1 \rightarrow 1 = 2 \times 4 - 2\)). - \(4 = 2 + 1\) (which gives us \(4 = 2 + 1\)). - \(2 + 3 = 10\) (which gives us \(2 + 3 = 10 \rightarrow 2 = 10 - 3\)). - \(5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 30\) (which gives us the final sum). 2. **Solving the equations step by step** leads us to find the values: - Start with \(2 + 3 = 10\), so \(3 = 10 - 4 = 6\). - Then use \(4 = 2 + 1\) to find \(4 = 4 + 1 = 5\). - Using \(5 + 3 = 14\) allows us to figure out the remaining numbers. Putting it all together, we find the secret code: \(7, 4, 6, 5, 8\). Each clue intricately connects to help build the solution, showcasing how logical deduction can unveil a hidden answer!