The sum of three consecutive numbers is 72. What are the smallest of these number?

2 Answers
Jun 22, 2018

#23#

Explanation:

The key realization is that if we model our first number with #x#, then the next numbers can be modeled by #x+1# and #x+2#.

The word sum tells us to add. So we can add these to get the new expression

#x+(x+1)+(x+2)=72#

This simplifies to

#3x+3=72#

Subtracting #3# from both sides gives us

#3x=69#

Lastly, dividing both sides by #3# gives us

#x=23#

The smallest of the three integers is modeled by the variable #x#, so this is our answer.

Hope this helps!

Jun 22, 2018

The numbers are #23, 24, and 25# and the smallest one is #23#.

Explanation:

.

Let the three consecutive numbers be #x, x+1, x+2#.

#x+x+1+x+2=72#

#3x+3=72#

#3x=69#

#x=23#

The numbers are:

#23, 24, and 25# and the smallest one is #23#.