Question

The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is 159. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Answer 1

`51`

Explanation:

Let `n` represent the least of the odd numbers. Then the next two will be `n+2` and `n+4`. That their sum is `159` gives us

`n+(n+2)+(n+4) = 159`

`=> 3n+6 = 159`

`=> 3n = 153`

`:. n = 51`

Checking, we find that `51+53+55 = 159` as desired.