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A set of 3 consecutive odd integers sums to –183. What is the least of the 3 integers?

User Matjaz
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1 Answer

19 votes
19 votes

1) A set of 3 consecutive odd integers like: x, x +2, x+4 the question says the sum so we can write:

x +x +2 +x +4 = -183 Combine like terms

3x +6 = -183 Subtract 6 from both sides

3x = -189 Divide both sides by 3

x=-63

2) Let's visualize then the set, by plugging into that the unknown value (x) found

(-63, -65, -67)

3) As we are dealing with negative numbers the least of those 3 integers is the farthest from zero. Therefore the answer is -67, the least number of those

User Neezer
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