Question

Jabari is thinking of three numbers. The greatest number is twice as large as the least number. The middle number is three more than the least number. The sum of the three numbers is 75. Find the numbers.

Answer 1

18, 21 and 36

Explanation:

The best way to solve this is to format the question as a series of equations, then solve them.

Let x = the smallest number, y = the middle number and z = the largest number:

z = 2x

y = x + 3

x + y + z = 75

We can now substitute the values of y and z in terms of x into the equation x + y + z = 75:

x + (x + 3) + (2x) = 75

Now, solve:

x + x + 3 + 2x = 75

4x + 3 = 75

4x = 72

x = 18

Therefore, the smallest number is 18, the middle number is 21 and the largest number is 36.