Question

The sum of three consecutive numbers is 240. Find the three numbers. (Hint: LEt x stand for the smallest number. Since the numbers are consecutive, add one to get the second number and add 2 to get the third number

Answer 1

The numbers would be 79, 80, and 81.

Answer 2

79, 80, 81

Explanation:

Write an equation using the information given. I chose to use the middle value as my x value. The equation is:

x + (x + 1) + (x - 1) = 240

You can get rid of the parenthesis and simplify the equation. The positive one is cancelled out by the negative one so you are left with x + x + x = 240 or it can be rewritten to get 3x = 240.

3x = 240

Divide both sides by 3

x = 80

Since I used x to be the middle number, I can find the other 2 numbers by adding and subtracting one.

79 + 80 + 81 = 240