Question

The sum of 3 consecutive numbers equals a. what are the numbers?

Answer 1

Say that the consecutive numbers are x-1, x, and x+1.

`x-1 = (a)/(3) - 1 = (a-3)/(3)`,

`x = (a)/(3)`, and

`x + 1 = (a+3)/(3)`.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the consecutive numbers are x-1, x, and x+1, then we use the equation:

(x-1) + x + (x+1) = a.

This means that:

3x - 1 + 1 = a, 3x = a, x =
`(a)/(3)`.

Therefore,
`x-1 = (a)/(3) - 1 = (a-3)/(3)`,
`x = (a)/(3)`, and
`x + 1 = (a+3)/(3)`.