Answer: 45
Step-by-step explanation:
When finding the equations for the numbers, remember that it is not three consecutive numbers: it is three CONSECUTIVE ODD numbers. Thus:
First number = x
Second number = x + 2
Third number = x + 4 (second number + 2)
x + x + 2 + x + 4 = 141
3x + 6 = 141
3x = 135
x = 45
This tells us that the smallest number (x) is 45. To check our answer, we can plug this value in for x:
45 + 45 + 2 + 45 + 4 = 141
141 = 141
This also tells us that the other two numbers would be 47 and 49, and 45 + 47 + 49 also equals 141.