the sum of three consecutive numbers is one hundred twenty-nine. what is the smallest of the three numbers?

Question

math-aids.com is the website my teacher got it at.

Answer 1

simplest solution...

when you divide 129 by 3 you get the mean of the numbers which is the middle integer

129/3=43

43-1=42

43+1=44

42, 43, and 44 are the numbers

 

harder solution...

x+(x+1)+(x+2)=129

3x+3=129

3x=129-3

3x=126

x=126/3

x=42

x+1=43

x+2=44

42, 43, and 44 again