The three numbers

Question

The sum of three numbers is 86 The third number is 3 times the first. The first number is 9 more than the second. What are the numbers

Answer 1

x = first number

x - 9 = second number

3x = third number

x + (x-9) + 3x = 86

5x - 9 = 86

5x = 95

x = 19

19, 10, 57

Answer 2

Hi Joe S.

Set your problem up by making the indicated substitutions according to the information given. One of the numbers, the second number, is the smallest number, according to the data given

Let Smallest number, the second number = x

Let the first number = x + 9

Let the third number = 3(first number) = 3(x + 9)

We know the sum of the three number so we can solve for x

x + 9 + x + 3(x + 9) = 86

First take care of the parentheses

x + 9 + x + 3x + 27 = 86

Next combine like terms

5x + 36 = 86

Isolate the variable on one side and the constants on the other side of the equal sign

5x = 86 - 36

5x = 50

Divide both sides by 5

x = 10

10 is the second number

x + 9 = 10 + 9 + 19

19 is the first number

3(x + 9) = 3(19) = 57

57 is the third number.

We can check by adding them togother

10 + 19 + 57 = 86

I hope this helps