SOLUTION: the sum of three consecutive even numbers is 78 what are the smallest of these numbers. READ please show all steps in english please because last time it was not understandable im

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Question 716439: the sum of three consecutive even numbers is 78 what are the smallest of these numbers.
READ please show all steps in english please because last time it was not understandable im 8th grader thanks!
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's call the smallest of those numbers n and say that it is an even number.

THE WAY TO WRITE THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM:
n%2B%28n%2B2%29%2B%28n%2B4%29=78
n%2Bn%2B2%2Bn%2B4=78
3n%2B6=78
3n=78-6
3n=72
n=72%2F3
highlight%28n=24%29

THE EXPLANATION (in English):
You do not need to write this.
I know I use lots of words, but I am hoping it is an understandable explanation.
We do not need to make a fancy expression to say that it is an even number for this kind of problem.
We can just call it n and trust that it will be an even number.
We will find at least one even number as a solution.
Otherwise the problem has no solution, and it was an unfair trick question.
Since n is even, the even number that follows n is n%2B2.
(The number in between is n%2B1 which would be an odd number).
The even number that follows n%2B2 is %28n%2B2%29%2B2=n%2B4.
The sum of those 3 consecutive even numbers is
n%2B%28n%2B2%29%2B%28n%2B4%29
When adding numbers, the commutative and associative properties tell us that we get the same result adding them in any order, grouping them in any way we want.
I did not even need to write those brackets that separate those even numbers.
I can write the sum rearranged in any order, with or without brackets.
n%2B%28n%2B2%29%2B%28n%2B4%29=n%2Bn%2B2%2Bn%2B4=%28n%2Bn%2Bn%29%2B%282%2B4%29=3n%2B6