the sum of three consecutive numbers is 312. find the smallest of the three

Question

math 

Answer 1

if they are consecutive, it means each number is 1 more than the one before it.

 

so call your smallest number "n" and the next 2 will be "n + 1" and "n + 2"

 

add them together to get "3n + 3," which they tell you equals 312.

 

take away the 3 from each side to get 3n = 309,

 

which means n = 103, your smallest number.

 

hope this helps!

 

Matt in NY

Answer 2

Divide 312 by 3. Answer is 104. The 3 numbers adding up to 312 are consecutive and one of these is 104.  Take 1 from 104=103 for one of the other numbers and add 1 to 104 = 105 for the third number.

103 + 104 + 105 = 312. The smallest of these three is 103.