Let the smallest be S

Then other 2 are: S + 1, and S + 2

We then get: S + 2(S + 1) = S + 2 + 24 

S + 2S + 2 = S + 26

3S - S = 26 - 2

2S = 24

S, or smallest number = 

ALWAYS, ALWAYS name the variable you're seeking in the "Let statement." 

NEVER do what the other person suggests. He's TOTALLY LOST!!



PAY NO attention to this old white person on a hill. She's LOST too. She still thinks that we're in the 1930s or 1940s, when she learned math.

She's on here telling students to think logically as if she doesn't know that calculators exist in the 21st century, and that teaching is different from 60, 70 years ago.

She's trying to change the method by which many other students have learned to solve math problems. You need to IGNORE her just like some others on here who claim to be tutors! 

By the way, she DETESTS equations. 

Answer by greenestamps(13200)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
 


Take the first suggestion at the end of the response from MathTherapy lightly.  While it is good practice, especially for beginning students, to start your solution with "let x = ...", it is not NECESSARY.


His last statement you should ignore completely, as it is just plain wrong.  There are always many ways to solve a problem; the solution from tutor josgarithmetic is perfectly good.


One part about tutor josgarithmetic's response that is worthwhile is his use of n-1, n, and n+1 as the three consecutive integers, instead of x, x+1, and x+2.  Although in this problem it didn't simplify the required arithmetic significantly, it can often be very advantageous -- in terms of the amount of work required to solve the problem, and in terms of the level of difficulty of the work -- to let your variable be the middle number instead of the first. 

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