document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1184033>Question 1184033</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the sum of three numbers is 15. The second number is two less than the first number. The sum of the first two numbers is twice the third number. Identify the three numbers. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #814571 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=814571\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "There are dozens of ways to set up this problem for solving....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I would do some logical analysis on the given information to make the required algebra easier.  In fact my preference would be to solve the whole problem without formal algebra.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) Since the sum of the first two numbers is twice the third number, the third number is one-third of the total.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) Then, since the sum of the three numbers is 15, the third number is 15/3=5.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3) Then the sum of the first two numbers is 15-5=10.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(4) Then, since the second number is 2 less than the first, the first number is 6 and the second is 4.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: 4, 5, and 6<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "If an algebraic solution is required, I would still do the logical analysis of (1) and (2) above to determine that the third number is 5.  Then<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "let x = first number<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then x-2=second number<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The sum of the three numbers is 15:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2B%28x-2%29%2B5=15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2B%28x-2%29%2B5=15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x%2B3=15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x%2B3=15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x=12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x=12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The first two numbers are x=6 and x-2=4; the three numbers are 4, 5, and 6.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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