document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=118561>Question 118561</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find three consecutive numbers whose sum is 60. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #86684 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=86684\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the first unknown number is represented by x, then the second consecutive number must<BR>\n" );
document.write( "be one greater than x (or x + 1) and the third consecutive number must be two greater than<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x (or x + 2). The sum of the three consecutive numbers then becomes:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x + (x + 1) + (x + 2)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and this sum must equal 60. This makes the equation:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) = 60<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Combine all the x terms on the left side and you have:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x + 1 + 2 = 60<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Add the 1  & 2 to get:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x + 3 = 60<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Get rid of the +3 on the left side by subtracting 3 from both sides and the result is:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x = 57<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Solve for x by dividing both sides of this equation by 3. Since 3 goes into 57 19 times,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the result is:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x = 19<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "And since the numbers are consecutive, the three numbers that you are looking for are:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "19 and 20 and 21<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If you add these three consecutive numbers, you get a total of 60, just as the problem<BR>\n" );
document.write( "requires the sum to be. So the answer checks.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps you to see how to set up and do the problem.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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