document.write( "Question 1167145: What is the answer to
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Algebra.Com's Answer #791740 by Edwin McCravy(20065)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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document.write( "The tutor above interpreted the problem wrong.  He interpreted it as if it had read:\r\n" );
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The sum of three consecutive even numbers is the same as THE SUM OF (twice the
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document.write( "But it's this:\r\n" );
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The sum of three consecutive even numbers is the same as twice the difference
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document.write( "Instead of doing yours for you, I'll do this one instead which is\r\n" );
document.write( "done exactly the same:\r\n" );
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The sum of four consecutive even numbers is the same as three times the
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document.write( "x = the smallest\r\n" );
document.write( "x+2 = next to smallest\r\n" );
document.write( "x+4 = next to largest\r\n" );
document.write( "x+6 = largest\r\n" );
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The sum of four consecutive even numbers
 \r\n" );
document.write( "So we add them all up by putting in plusses \r\n" );
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document.write( "x + (x+2) + (x+4) + (x+6)\r\n" );
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is the same as
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document.write( "That means to put an equal sign after it.\r\n" );
document.write( "So we have:\r\n" );
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document.write( "x + (x+2) + (x+4) + (x+6) =\r\n" );
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three times
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document.write( "So we write 3∙ after the equal sign, and we have:\r\n" );
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document.write( "x + (x+2) + (x+4) + (x+6) = 3∙\r\n" );
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the difference of the next to the smallest number and 20.
 \r\n" );
document.write( "That means to subtract them in that order.  Since the next to the smallest is\r\n" );
document.write( "(x+2) is mentioned first and 20 second, we subtract them in that order and put\r\n" );
document.write( "[(x+2)-20] after the 3∙\r\n" );
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document.write( "So the equation is\r\n" );
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document.write( "x + (x+2) + (x+4) + (x+6) = 3∙[(x+2)-20]\r\n" );
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document.write( "x + x + 2 + x + 4 + x + 6 = 3∙[x + 2 - 20]\r\n" );
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document.write( "4x + 12 = 3∙[x - 18]\r\n" );
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document.write( "4x + 12 = 3x - 54\r\n" );
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document.write( "      x = -66\r\n" );
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document.write( "  x = the smallest = -66\r\n" );
document.write( "x+2 = next to smallest = -66+2 = -64\r\n" );
document.write( "x+4 = next to largest = -66+4 = -62\r\n" );
document.write( "x+6 = largest = -66+6 = -60\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now do yours, which has only 3 consecutive numbers.\r\n" );
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document.write( "[Your answers will be negative too]\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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