Question

The average of 3 consecutive even numbers is 18 find the smallest of these numbers

Answer 1

Please see the attachment

Answer 2

Let the first no. be x,second no. will be x+1, and third no. be x+2.

So ,

$\frac{x + x + 1 + x + 2}{3} = 18 \\ = > \frac{3x + 3}{3} = 18 \\ = > \frac{3(x + 1)}{3} = 18 \\ = > x + 1 = 18 \\ = > x = 18 - 1 \\ = > x = 17$

Therefore, the smallest of these numbers is 17.