Question 12259
The sum of three consecutive numbers is 600.  What is the least of these three numbers

We begin by:
let x be the first number
x+1 is the next number
x=2 is the third number
So we have the equation;
x+(x+1)+(x+2)=600
Add the like terms:
3x+3=600
Subtract both sides by 3:
3x+3-3=600-3
3x=597
Divide both sides by 3:
3x/3=597/3
x=199
So the consecutive numbers would be:
199+200+201=600
Which is the least of these three? 199

I hope you got it, =)