Question

The sum of three consecutive numbers is twelve less than six times the lowest number. What are the three numbers?

Answer 1

if our 1st number is say "a", then the CONSECUTIVE number will be the next number, that is a+1

and the CONSECUTIVE from that will be (a+1)+1

so
a a + 1 (a+1) + 1
^ ^ ^
1st number 2nd number 3rd number

you add them up and they're equal to "12 less than 6 times the lowest number"

well, obviously "a" is the lowest number, because the others have an extra 1 or 1+1

6 times "a" = 6a
12 less than that => 6a-12

so \(\bf a+[a+1]+[a+1]+1=6a-12\)

solve for "a"