document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=525>Question 525</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I always have problems with these word problems: Find three consecutive even numbers so that the sum of the first and third numbers is 22 less than three times the second number. This one is hard, I would love it if you helped me out on this please and thank you!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Kelsie </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #197 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=arden42><B>arden42(16)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-06.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=arden42><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=197\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Well, first we need to assign letters to each of the numbers. x, y and z will do.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now, if they are consecutive even numbers, then we know that x is 2 less than y, and y is 2 less than z:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+y-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+y-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=y+=+z-2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"y+=+z-2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We'll rearrange the second one to be consistent:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=z+=+y+%2B+2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"z+=+y+%2B+2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now for the rest of the question. The first number plus the third number is 22 less than the second number multiplied by 3:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+%2B+z+=+3y+-+22 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+%2B+z+=+3y+-+22\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "To work out the numbers, we will need to substitute the first 2 equations into the third, like this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28y+-+2%29+%2B+%28y+%2B+2%29+=+3y-22 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28y+-+2%29+%2B+%28y+%2B+2%29+=+3y-22\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Expanding the brackets gives:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2y+=+3y-22 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2y+=+3y-22\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Adding 22 to both sides, and taking away 2y from both sides:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=22=y ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"22=y\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the middle number is 22. Since the other numbers are the even numbers either side of it, the final answer is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The 3 numbers are 20, 22 and 24. </SPAN>\n" );
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