Our three consecutive integers can be represented as
X → first integer
X + 1 → second integer
X + 2 → third integer
If the sum of our three consecutive integers is 72, our equation will read...
X + X + 1 + X + 2 = 72
Now, we can simplify on the left. Once we simplify, our equation will now read
3x + 3 = 72
-3 -3 ← subtract 3 from both sides
3x = 69 ← divide both sides by 3
X = 23
X → first integer 23
X + 1 → second integer 24
X + 2 → third integer 25
Therefore, the 3 consecutive integers are 23, 24, and 25.