Question 11728
The sum of three consecutive numbers is 600. What is the least of these three numbers? 

Let x be the first unknown number. The numbers are consecutive, so the other two would be; x+1, x+2

We now have:

x+(x+1)+(x+2)=600

Now we solve the equation for x,

We can add all the x's together; 3x+3=600

Now we subtract the 3 from both sides;
 3x+3-3=600-3
  3x = 597
Now we divide the 3 from both sides;
3x/3 = 597/3

We are left with x=199
check:
now we can add the numbers placing 199 for x;

199+(199+1)+(199+2)=600

199+200+201=600