document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1161302>Question 1161302</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find three consecutive even integers such that the sum of 6 times the first, 5 times the second, and 4 times the third is 356.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #784811 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=784811\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Very often, a formal algebraic solution to a problem like this is made simpler by choosing the variable x as the middle number.  In this problem, that leads to<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=6%28x-2%29%2B5%28x%29%2B4%28x%2B2%29+=+356 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"6%28x-2%29%2B5%28x%29%2B4%28x%2B2%29+=+356\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=6x-12%2B5x%2B4x%2B8+=+356 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"6x-12%2B5x%2B4x%2B8+=+356\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15x-4+=+356 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15x-4+=+356\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15x+=+360 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15x+=+360\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The three numbers are 22, 24, and 26.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "If a formal algebraic solution is not required, you can get to the solution quickly using a bit of estimation.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Since the numbers are three consecutive even integers, the sum of 6 times the first, 5 times the second, and 4 times the third is very close to 15 times the second.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Estimating 15 times an even number is about 356 leads immediately to 24 as the middle number, again making the three numbers 22, 24, and 26.<br><BR>\n" );
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