Question

if x is the first, or smallest, of three consecutive integers, express the sum of the second integer and the third integer as an algebraic expression containing the variable x.

Answer 1

Consecutive means (+1) away, so the three consecutive integers are:
x, which is 1st integer
x+1 is the 2nd integer
x+2 is the 3rd integer.

The sum of the 2nd and third integers are
(x+1) + (x+2)
= x + 1 + x + 2
= 2x + 3