SOLUTION: the product of 3 consecutive even natural numbers divided by their sum is 64. what is the middle number?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Numbers -> SOLUTION: the product of 3 consecutive even natural numbers divided by their sum is 64. what is the middle number?       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 1012448: the product of 3 consecutive even natural numbers divided by their sum is 64. what is the middle number?

Found 2 solutions by stanbon, ikleyn:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
Answer by ikleyn(52786) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
the product of 3 consecutive even natural numbers divided by their sum is 64. what is the middle number?
------------------------------------------------------------
Let x be that middle number.
Then the three numbers are (x-2), x, and (x+2).

Their product is P = (x-2)*x*(x+2) = x*(x^2 - 4).
Their sum is S = (x-2) + x + (x+2) = 3x.
The equation is 

P%2FS = 64,  or %28x%2A%28x%5E2-4%29%29%2F%283x%29 = 64,  or  %28x%5E2-4%29%2F3 = 64.


x%5E2+-+4 = 64*3 = 192,  x%5E2 = 192 + 4 = 196,  x = +/-14.

Since the condition talks about natural numbers, only positive value is the solution.

Answer. x = 14.