Question

the sum of three consecutive number is 72. What are the smallest of these numbers?

Answer 1

the smallest is when all the numbers are the same

Answer 2

if they are all the same you could say this number is x

Answer 3

oh consecutive

Answer 4

well lets keep going

Answer 5

this number will be x

Answer 6

that means 3x=72

Answer 7

Let x = first number, x + 1 = second number, x + 2 = third number.

x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) = 72

x + x + 1 + x + 2 = 72

3x + 3 = 72

3x + 3 - 3 = 72 - 3 = 69

3x/3 = 69/3

x = 23

The smallest of the three numbers is 23.

Verify

23 + 24 + 25 = 60 + 12 = 72