<PRE><B>Question 894661</B>
the number is x = -6


-6*-5*-4 = -120


(-5)^3 + 5 = -125 + 5 = -120


the number checks out ok.


the process is as follows:


the 3 numbers are x, x+1, x+2


(x+1)^3 + 5 = x^3 + 3x^2 + 3x + 1 + 5 which is equal to:


x^3 + 3x^2 + 3x + 6


x*(x+1)*(x+2) is equal to x^3 + 3x^2 + 2x


you get:


x^3 + 3x^2 + 2x = x^3 + 3x^3 + 3x + 6


subtract (x^3 + 3x^2 + 2x) from both sides of this equation to get:


0 = x + 6


solve for x to get x = -6


the rest is confirmation that was done up top.





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