The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is 183. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Question

I'm so sorry I need help one more time I don't understand this problem either this is my last problem I got this problem from my 7th grade math teacher and I missed two days of school and I need to get to 100 on my test and my homework so I can cheer can you please help me !

Answer 1

Here's what we know:

a + b + c = 183

b = a + 2

c = a + 4

 

Now we put those values into our variables:

a + (a + 2) + (a + 4) = 183

Simplify:

3a + 6 = 183

Isolate a, starting by subtracting 6 from both sides:

3a = 177

Divide both sides by 3:

a = 59

 

Check:

51 + 61 + 63 = 183

183 = 183

Answer 2

The three consecutive odd numbers add up up to 183.

Average = 183/3 = 61

Two consecutive odd numbers differ by 2.

Hence, the numbers are 61-2, 61, 61 +2  or      59, 61, 63

The smallest is 59.

 

This is a short cut way to solve the problem. A more detailed algebraic method is that proposed in the other answer.