Question

The sum of three consecutive numbers is eighty seven. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Answer 1

well, consecutive numbers, we're assuming integers btw, so hmmm since they're consecutive, if the smallest is "a", the next is either "a-1" or "a+1", let's use

a = small

a+1 = larger

a+2 = largest

`\stackrel{\textit{their sum}}{a+(a+1)+(a+2)}=87\implies 3a+3=87 \\\\\\ 3a=84\implies a=\cfrac{84}{3}\implies a=28`