Question

The sum of three consecutive numbers is 48. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

Dividing `48/3=16`

Explanation:

This is the middle number. The others are one less and one more:

`15,16,17`

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In addition, there is another way to solve this.
For instance, you know that the sum of three numbers must add to be 48. Also, you know that they are consecutive.

Thus, you can represent the value of the least number with `x`.
Moreover, since they are consecutive numbers you can represent the value of the next number with `x+1`.
Now, for the third number you simply add 2 (`x+2`).

The equation would look something like this:

`(x)+(x+1)+(x+2)=48`
`3x+3=48`
`cancel (+3)` on both sides
`3x=45` divide by 3
`x=15`

Substitute for the other values when `x=15`:

`x+1` `->` `15+1=16`
`x+2` `->` `15+2=17`

Finally, the three answers are `15, 16 and 17.`

Answer 2

So the three numbers are: `15"; "16"; "17`

Explanation:

There are tree consecutive numbers ( right next to each other on the number line) that are added together

What follows does work.

`color(brown)("Note that the average number is the middle one on the number line")`
`3xx"the average number "=48`

`=>"the average number" = 48/3 = 16`

So the next one up is `" "16+1=17`
So the next one down is `16-1=15`

So the three numbers are: `15"; "16"; "17`