The sum of three consecutive numbers is 264. What is the smallest number

Question

HELP ME THIS IS DUE TOMORROW

Answer 1

consecutive means that each number is bigger than the previous by 1.  So let X = the smallest.  Let Y be the next larger, and Z be the biggest.

 

Now when we add them together, we get 264.  This means

X + Y + Z = 264.

 

Since Y is 1 bigger than X, Y = X + 1. 

Since Z is 1 bigger than Y, Z = Y + 1.  But Y = X + 1, so Z = (X + 1) + 1 = X + 2.

 

Now that we know Y and Z in terms of X, let's substitute those values into X + Y + Z = 264.

X + (X+1) + (X+2) = 264.  Now we gather terms:

 

(X+X+X) + (1+2) = 264

3X + 3 = 264.  Subtract 3 from both sides:

3X = 261.  Divide both sides by 3:

X = 87.  Since we started out by defining X as the smallest number, we know that the smallest number is 87.