document.write( "Question 1131468: There are three consecutive integers such that the sum of the first and third is 72. Find the middle integer. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #748145 by greenestamps(13200) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "In a set of three consecutive integers, the middle number is the average of the first and last.

\n" ); document.write( "Since the sum of the first and last is 72, the middle number is 72/2 = 36. (And the other two numbers are 35 and 37.)

\n" ); document.write( "If you need to use formal algebra, the work is a little easier if you let the middle number be the variable x:

\n" ); document.write( "x = middle number
\n" ); document.write( "x-1 = first number
\n" ); document.write( "x+1 = third number

\n" ); document.write( "Then the given information says
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x-1%29%2B%28x%2B1%29+=+72\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"2x+=+72\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x+=+36\"$

\n" ); document.write( "The middle number is x = 36. \n" ); document.write( "

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