Question

The sum of three consecutive even numbers is one hundred sixty - two.

What is the smallest of the three numbers ?

Answer 1

52

Explanation:

Let x represent the smallest of the three numbers. Then the other two are (x+2) and (x+4). Their sum is ...

x + (x+2) +(x+4) = 162

3x = 156 . . . . . . . . . . . .subtract 6

x = 156/3 = 52

The smallest of the three numbers is 52.

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I like to work problems like this by considering the average number. Here, the average of the three numbers is 162/3 = 54, the middle number of the three. Then the smallest of the three consecutive even numbers is 2 less, or 52.