document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1148560>Question 1148560</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find the consecutive even numbers such that the sum of  3/5  of the first,  1/2  of the second and  3/8 of the third is 32. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #769914 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=769914\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Presumably this problem is intended as an exercise in using algebra to solve problems.  However, note that a little logical reasoning can get to the answer much faster, and with much less effort.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) Each of the fractions is close to 1/2; so the sum of the three numbers is about 2*32=64.  So the three numbers are in the low 20s.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) 3/5 of the first number is a whole number, so the first number must be a multiple of 5.  And since it is even, it must be a multiple of 10.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3) A number in the low 20s that is a multiple of 10 has to be 20.  So the three numbers are PROBABLY 20, 22, and 24.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "CHECK:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3/5)*20 + (1/2)*22 + (3/8)*24 = 12+11+9 = 32<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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