Word Problem

Question

The sum of three natural numbers is 15. The second number is 1 more than the first number. The sum of the first and third numbers is equal to twice the second number, Find all three numbers.

Answer 1

n = first number

n + 1  = second number

n + third number = 2(n +1), so 2(n + 1) - n, or 2n + 2 - n, or n + 2 = third number

 

The sum of the three is 15

 

n + (n + 1) + (n + 2) = 15

3n + 3 = 15

3n = 12

n = 4

 

The three numbers are 4, 5, 6.

 

Word problems like this give math a bad name.