document.write( "Question 1125067: the sum of three consecutive odd intergers is 17 less than four times the smallest integer \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #741424 by greenestamps(13200) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "The algebra is often easier in a problem like this if you let x be the middle of the three integers. If you are good with mental calculations, you might be able to solve the problem without writing out all the steps.

\n" ); document.write( "Here is how it might go (see if you can do all these steps mentally....)

\n" ); document.write( "Because x is the middle of the three consecutive odd integers, the sum of the three integers is now 3x.

\n" ); document.write( "That sum is 17 less than 4 times the smallest integer, which is x-2:

\n" ); document.write( " $\"3x+=+4%28x-2%29-17\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"3x+=+4x-8-17+=+4x-25\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x+=+25\"$

\n" ); document.write( "The middle number is 25; the three numbers are 23, 25, and 27. \n" ); document.write( "

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