SOLUTION: The sum of three consecutive integers is -96. What is the smallest integer?

Question 838015: The sum of three consecutive integers is -96. What is the smallest integer?
Found 2 solutions by josh_jordan, Alan3354:
Answer by josh_jordan(263) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To solve, we need to set this up as an equation. First, we know that we are looking for 3 consecutive integers. We will use the letter x to represent the unknown integers. So, integer 1 will be x. Integer 2 will be x + 1. Integer 3 will be x + 2. We also know that the sum of these integers is -96. So, let's combine everything together:

x + x + 1 + x + 2 = -96

Combine like terms on the left side of the equal sign:

3x + 3 = -96

Subtract 3 from both sides, giving us:

3x = -99

Divide both sides by 3 to obtain integer 1:

x = -33

Now, we can plug in -33 to our formula for integer 2:

-33 + 1 -----> -32

Now, plug in -33 to our formula for integer 3:

-33 + 2 -----> -31

We now have our 3 integers: -33, -32, and -31.

We are asked to find the smallest integer, which is -33
Answer by Alan3354(69443) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(x-1) + x + (x+1) = -96
3x = -96
etc

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