Find 3 consecutive odd integers such that the sum of the smallest number and the middle number is 27 less than 3 times the largest number

Question

I don't know how to do it 

Answer 1

Okay, this is a puzzle that you have to solve. Let's look at all the parts.

Consecutive odd integers... that means that if x is the first one, then x+2 will be the next largest one, and x+4 will be the largest one.  So if x is 5, x+2 is 7, and x+4 is 9.

 

Sum means add.  and you want to add the smallest and the middle one. That means x plus x+2

That sum is equal to 27 less than 3 times the largest number.  So the "is equal to" tells us where the equal sign goes.

 

"less than" means you are subracting 27 FROM something else.   It is three times the larges (x+4) minus 27 on the other side of the equation sign.

 

Take a minute and write down your equation.

 

 

 

 

It should look like this:

 

x+(x+2) = 3(x+4) -27.

 

The sum of the smallest and the middle number = three times the larger minus 27.

 

Remember to distribute the three to both terms is (x+4).  When you find x, add two and then four to get the three consecutive odd integers.

 

Breathe, and keep on working!

 

Mary