Math Integers -------------

Question

Three consecutive odd integers have a sum of 33. Find the integers.

Answer 1

Hello Kaite,

So, the problem is asking us for three consecutive odd integers. An integer is simply a whole number. It cannot be a fraction. With this information we need to come up with three expressions to represent these integers before we can identify which integers they are, okay?

How about these?

2x -1

2x + 1

2x + 3

The problem tells us the sum of these three integers is 33. So, let's use the expressions we used to represent the integers and sum them while making them equal to 33, okay?

2x - 1 + 2x + 1 + 2x + 3 = 33

6x + 3 = 33

6x = 30

x = 5

Now we need to substitute 5 for "x" in our expressions to identify the integers.

2(5) - 1 = 9

2(5) + 1 = 11

2(5) + 3 = 13

Notice the sum of the three integers we identified is 33, and also you will notice that the three integers are consecutive.

I hope this helps and that you have a great Sunday. Best!