document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=281406>Question 281406</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A group of students disagree, and think that there must be a set of 3 consecutive numbers whose sum is not a multiple of 3. Use sound mathematical reasoning to convince them that they must be wrong.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #204458 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=dabanfield><B>dabanfield(803)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-11.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=dabanfield><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=204458\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let x be the smallest of the three integers. Then the next two consecutive integers are x+1 and x+2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Their sum then is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x + (x+1) + (x+2) = <BR>\n" );
document.write( "3x + 3 = <BR>\n" );
document.write( "3*(x+1)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since the above has a factor of 3 the sum is always divisible by 3.   </SPAN>\n" );
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