Three consecutive integers

Question

if the sum of three consecutive even integers is 186, what is the first of the three even integers? Hint: if x and x+2 represent the first two consecutive even integers, then how would the third consecutive even integer be represented? 

Answer 1

Sweet since our first and second consecutive integers are x and x+2 our third one would be (x+4)

 

Thus our expression ought to be

 

x + (x+2) + (x+4)  = 186

 

Now let's solve for the value of x 

 

3x + 6 = 186

 

3x = 180

 

x = 60

 

So our integers are 60, 62 and 64 and the first one would be 60

 

We can check by adding them up and seeing if it equals 186

 

60 + 62 + 64 = 186

 

Cool we have the right integers.