SOLUTION: Find three consecutive odd integers whose sum is -81. Please some me how to get the answer.

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Question 551: Find three consecutive odd integers whose sum is -81.
Please some me how to get the answer.
Answer by arden42(16) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
OK, we want 3 numbers, so we'll call them x, y and z.
Now, we know that:
x%2By%2Bz=-81
If they are consecutive odd integers, then we also know that:
x%2B2=y
and
y%2B2=z
The second-last equation can be substituted into the last one, giving:
%28x%2B2%29%2B2=z
Expand the brackets:
x%2B4=z
Substituting these values for y and z into the original equation gives:
x%2B%28x%2B2%29%2B%28x%2B4%29=-81
Expand the brackets:
3x%2B6=-81
Subtract 6 from both sides:
3x+=+-87
Divide by 3:
x=-29
Using the values of y and z from above we get:
y+=+-29%2B2
y=-27
and:
z=-29%2B4
z=-25
So the 3 integers are -25,-27 and -29.