SOLUTION: Find four consecutive whole numbes such that the sum of the first three numbers equal the fourth number

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Question 73920This question is from textbook Elementary algebra
: Find four consecutive whole numbes such that the sum of the first three numbers equal the fourth number
 This question is from textbook Elementary algebra

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let n=1st number, o=2nd number, p=3rd number, q=4th number.
Since they are consecutive, the 2nd number is 1 more than the 1st number, the 3rd is 1 more than the 2nd, etc. So it looks like this

And the sum of the first 3 equal the 4th
Solve for o for the 2nd equation

Solve for n for the 1st equation

Plug these new substitutions into and plug in p+1 into q

Now plug in p-1 into o

Now we have an equation with nothing but p's. We can now solve for p



Use this to solve for the rest of the numbers



Use this to solve for the rest of the numbers



So n=0, o=1, and p=2. That means q=3


So the numbers are 0,1,2,3
Hope this makes sense.