Question

The sum of 3 consecutive odd integers is 57, what is the smallest integer?

Answer 1

First, we can call the smallest of the odd integers `x`

Then, we find the next odd integer

Well, odd integers come every other number, so let's say we start from 1. We must add 2 more to 1 to get to the consecutive odd integer

So the middle of our consecutive odd integers can be expressed as `x + 2`

We can apply the same method for the last odd integer, it is 4 more than the first odd integer, so it can be seen as `x + 4`

We are finding the sum to be 57, so we create the equation

`x + x + 2 + x + 4 = 57`

Combine like terms: `3x + 6 = 57`

Subtract: `3x = 51`

Divide: `x = 17`

So, our integers are `17, 19, 21`

Check them really quickly, and they work!

The question asks for the smallest of the integers, which would be 17