document.write( "Question 716439: the sum of three consecutive even numbers is 78 what are the smallest of these numbers.
\n" ); document.write( "READ please show all steps in english please because last time it was not understandable im 8th grader thanks!
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Algebra.Com's Answer #439901 by KMST(5328)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's call the smallest of those numbers \"n\" and say that it is an even number.
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\n" ); document.write( "THE WAY TO WRITE THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM:
\n" ); document.write( "\"n%2B%28n%2B2%29%2B%28n%2B4%29=78\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"n%2Bn%2B2%2Bn%2B4=78\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"3n%2B6=78\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"3n=78-6\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"3n=72\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"n=72%2F3\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"highlight%28n=24%29\"
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\n" ); document.write( "THE EXPLANATION (in English):
\n" ); document.write( "You do not need to write this.
\n" ); document.write( "I know I use lots of words, but I am hoping it is an understandable explanation.
\n" ); document.write( "We do not need to make a fancy expression to say that it is an even number for this kind of problem.
\n" ); document.write( "We can just call it \"n\" and trust that it will be an even number.
\n" ); document.write( "We will find at least one even number as a solution.
\n" ); document.write( "Otherwise the problem has no solution, and it was an unfair trick question.
\n" ); document.write( "Since \"n\" is even, the even number that follows \"n\" is \"n%2B2\".
\n" ); document.write( "(The number in between is \"n%2B1\" which would be an odd number).
\n" ); document.write( "The even number that follows \"n%2B2\" is \"%28n%2B2%29%2B2=n%2B4\".
\n" ); document.write( "The sum of those 3 consecutive even numbers is
\n" ); document.write( "\"n%2B%28n%2B2%29%2B%28n%2B4%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "When adding numbers, the commutative and associative properties tell us that we get the same result adding them in any order, grouping them in any way we want.
\n" ); document.write( "I did not even need to write those brackets that separate those even numbers.
\n" ); document.write( "I can write the sum rearranged in any order, with or without brackets.
\n" ); document.write( "\"n%2B%28n%2B2%29%2B%28n%2B4%29=n%2Bn%2B2%2Bn%2B4=%28n%2Bn%2Bn%29%2B%282%2B4%29=3n%2B6\" \n" ); document.write( "
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