Question

Three Friends all have ages that are consecutive integers. The sum of their ages is 48. What is the age of the oldest friend?

Answer 1

Since the ages are consecutive integers and if x is one of them, then I can write the following equation:

the 1st age= x-1
the 2nd age = x
the 3rd age = x+1

(x-1) + (x) + (x+1) = 48

3x = 48 and x = 16

the 1st = 15
the 2nd = 16
the 3rd = 17 (the older)