The sum of three consecutive integers is 72. What is the smallest of three integers?
The sum of three consecutive integers is 72. What is the smallest of three integers?
Explanation
Let the three consecutive integers be x+1, and x+2.
According to the problem, their sum is 72:
x+(x+1)+(x+2)=72
Combine like terms:
3x+3=72
Subtract 3 from both sides:
3x=69
Divide by 3:
x=23