Question

the sum of three consecutive number is 156. the smallest number out of these three consecutive number is?? ​

Answer 1

Answer:

Let 2n = the first of three consecutive even numbers.

Let 2n + 2 = the second consecutive even number.

Let 2n + 4 = the third consecutive even number.

Since "the sum of these three consecutive even numbers is 156," we can translate this statement mathematically into the following equation to be solved for the unknown number n:

2n + (2n + 2) + (2n + 4) = 156

2n + 2n + 2+ 2n + 4 = 156

Collecting like-terms on the left, we get:

6n + 6 = 156

6n + 6 - 6 = 156 - 6

6n + 0 = 150

6n = 150

(6n)/6 = 150/6

(6/6)n = 150/6

(1)n =25

n = 25

Therefore, ...

2n = 2(25) = 50

2n + 2 = 50 + 2 = 52 and

2n + 4 = 50 + 4 = 54

CHECK:

2n + (2n + 2) + (2n + 4) = 156

50 + (52) + (54) = 156

50 + 52 + 54 = 156

156 = 156

Therefore, the three consecutive numbers whose sum is 156 are indeed 50, 52, and 54, and 50 is obviously the smallest.