document.write( "Question 280616: if the sum of four consecutive integers is 86 what is the least of these integers \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #203962 by oberobic(2304) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Any 4 consecutive integers can be defined as w, x, y, and z.
\n" ); document.write( "But that makes for a really hard problem to solve.
\n" ); document.write( "A simpler way to define them is:
\n" ); document.write( "w = w
\n" ); document.write( "x = w+1
\n" ); document.write( "y = w+2
\n" ); document.write( "z = w+3
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Now we have all 4 values in terms of 'w'.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "We know the sum is 86.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "w + (w+1) + (w+2) + (w+3) = 86
\n" ); document.write( "collect terms
\n" ); document.write( "4w + 6 = 86
\n" ); document.write( "subtract 6 from both sides
\n" ); document.write( "4w = 80
\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides by 4
\n" ); document.write( "w = 20
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "checking
\n" ); document.write( "20+21+22+23 = ??
\n" ); document.write( "86!
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Answer:
\n" ); document.write( "The least of these numbers is 20.
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Done. \n" ); document.write( "

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