Question

The sum of three consecutive even integers is –78. What are the integers?

Describe how you would use the strategy of writing an equation to solve the given problem.

Answer 1

-28, -26, -24

You would start by assigning the basic variable of x to the first number. After that each number must be two higher. So the next two numbers must be x + 2 and x + 4. By adding all three of those together and setting it equal to -78, you can find the first and, therefore, all of the other numbers as well.