the sum of three consecutive numbers is 60. Find the numbers.

Question

find three consecutive numbers whose sum is 60.  I tried this problem and keep getting it wrong.  Please help!

Answer 1

If they are consecutive, make an equation with x, x+1, and x+2, and set that equal to 60.

Answer 2

Linda C. gave you the algebraic solution. Here's a simple arithmetic solution.

Find the mean of the three numbers.

60/3=20

The other two numbers must have a mean of 20 also.

The numbers are consecutive integers.

20-1=19 and 20+1=21 (19+21=40, 40/2=20)

The numbers are 19,20, and 21

19+20+21=60

Another way to look at this is...

If three numbers add up to 60, their mean is 60/3=20.

This is the same as having 20,20, and 20, but, you have three consecutive integers.

Take 1 from the first 20 (19) and add it to the third 20 (21); 19,20,and 21