Question

The sum of three consecutive even integers is 126. Let x represent the least consecutive integer.

What equation could be used to find the least consecutive integer?

What is the greatest consecutive integer?


A little stumped. Please, walk me through it? Thanks!

Answer 1

The equation is x+(x+2)+(x+4)=126, and the greatest consecutive integers is 44.

Explanation:
If x is the smallest consecutive integer, the next even integer up would be (x+2), and the next one up from that would be (x+2+2)=(x+4).

Their sum is 126, so x+(x+2)+(x+4)=126.

Combine like terms and we have 3x+6=126.

Subtract 6 from both sides:
3x+6-6=126-6
3x=120.

Divide both sides by 3:
3x/3 = 120/3
x=40.

This makes the least consecutive integer 40. The next one up would be 40+2=42, and the greatest would be 40+4=44.