The sum of three consecutive numbers is 81. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Question

The sum of three consecutive numbers is 81. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Answer 1

Our first number will be x. Since the numbers are consecutive the second number is x+1 and the third number is x+2.

The sum of the numbers is 81, so x+ x+1+x+2=81.

Simplifying gives us 3x+3=81.

To solve, first subtract 3 from both sides.

3x= 78

Divide both sides by 3.

x=26

Therefore, 26 is x and the smallest number.

To check, 26+27+28 = 81.