Question

Find three consecutive even integers such that the sum of the smallest to the largest 36

Answer 1

First, I would set up an equation (assuming 36 is the sum of all 3 numbers).

x+(x+2)+(x+4)=36
3x+6=36
-6 -6
3x=30
--- ---
3 3
x=10

Now, we just plug in the numbers to find the consecutive integers
10+(10+2)+(10+4)
10+12+14

So your 3 consecutive even integers are 10,12 and 14

Answer 2

If they were all the same integer, then each one would be
1/3 of 36, and you would have

12 + 12 + 12 = 36 .

But you don't want them to all be the same number. You
want them to be three consecutive even numbers.

Fine ! Take 2 away from the first 12, and glue it onto the last 12 .
Their sum doesn't change, but now you have

10 + 12 + 14 = 36 .