\]Question: A mammalogist tracks the daily food consumption (in grams) of five endangered voles over a period: 12, 15, $x$, 18, and 21. If the average consumption is 16 grams, what is the value of $x$?

["Question: A mammalogist tracks the daily food consumption (in grams) of five endangered voles over a period: 12, 15, $x$, 18, and 21. If the average consumption is 16 grams, what is the value of $x$?", "Understanding the average daily food intake of endangered voles is crucial for their conservation and habitat management. In a recent study, a mammalogist recorded the daily food consumption (in grams) of five rare voles as: 12, 15, $x$, 18, and 21. With the average daily intake measured at 16 grams, determining the missing value $x$ reveals key nutritional insights for species preservation.", "To find $x$, we use the formula for average:", "[\n\ ext{Average} = \frac{\ ext{Sum of all values}}{\ ext{Number of values}}\n]", "Given the average is 16 grams and there are 5 voles, the total daily food consumption must be:", "[\n16 \ imes 5 = 80 \ ext{ grams}\n]", "The known values sum to:", "[\n12 + 15 + 18 + 21 = 66 \ ext{ grams}\n]", "Let the unknown $x$ represent the missing consumption value. Then:", "[\n66 + x = 80\n]", "Solving for $x$ gives:", "[\nx = 80 - 66 = 14\n]", "Thus, the daily food consumption of the fifth vole is 14 grams—a vital data point aiding targeted feeding strategies and ensuring the survival of this endangered species. By accurately tracking such metrics, mammalogists enhance conservation efforts with precise, science-based insights."]