Three consecutive integers that have a sum of 48

Question

anonymous · Answer

Ooh that is a tricky problem. I will just have to think about it logically.
What is 48/3?

It is 16

anonymous · Answer

Knowing that, I know that I will need a sum that will equal 16(3)

Well isn't 15+16+17 = 48

The 15 and 17 displace each other to make two 16

Does that make sense?

anonymous · Answer

hi :)

anonymous · Answer

if the middle number is $n$, then the first number is $n-1$ and the last number is $n+1$. if you add $(n-1)+n+(n+1)$ you get $3n$, so to find the middle number we merely solve:$$3n=48\n=48/3=16$$

i.e. our middle number is $16$. what are the first and last numbers?

anonymous · Answer

15 an 17 is the answer?

anonymous · Answer

the three numbers are 15, 16, and 17 -- yes!