What are the numbers?

Question

The sum of three numbers is 109. The third number is 3 times the second. The first number is 6 less than the second. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

Let us assume the first number is x.

Since the first number is 6 less than the second, the second number would therefore be 6+x.

The third number is 3 times the second. That makes it 3 X (6 + x). This can also be written as 18 + 3x, after multiplying the value of 3 to the values inside the parentheses and adding them.

The sum of the numbers is 109.

So, x + (x + 6) + (18 + 3x) = 109.

Adding the x terms and the numeric terms together we get:

x + x + 3x + 6 + 18 = 109

5x + 24 = 109

Subtracting 24 from both sides of the equation

5x = 85

Dividing both sides by 5:

x = 17

So, the numbers are: 17, 17 + 6, and 3(17+6)

This equates to 17, 23, 69

Answer 2

s represents the second number

3s represents the third number

s - 6 represents the first number

s + 3s + s - 6 = 109

Can you solve for s and answer?