SOLUTION: What is three consecutive integers with a sum of -39 ?

Question 515496: What is three consecutive integers with a sum of -39 ?
Answer by drcole(72) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x be the first consecutive integer. Then x + 1 is the second consecutive integer, and x + 2 is the third consecutive integer. We know that the sum of the three consecutive integers is -39, and we can represent this fact as an algebraic equation:
x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) = -39
Now we solve for x:
3x + 3 = -39 (combine like terms)
3x = -42 (subtract 3 from both sides)
x = -14 (divide both sides by 3)
So the first consecutive integer is -14. The second consecutive integer is x + 1 = -14 + 1 = -13, and the third consecutive integer is x + 2 = -14 + 2 = -12. To check, we sum these three integers:
-14 + (-13) + (-12) = -14 - 13 - 12 = -27 - 12 = -39
which is what we wanted, so we have the correct answer.
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