Question 1023322
.
Separate the number 38 into three parts so that the second number is 2 less than the first number which is one half the third number
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Let x = first number.
Then the second number is (x-2) and the third number is 2x.


The condition says that


x + (x-2) + 2x = 38,


4x - 2 = 38,

4x = 38 + 2,

4x = 40,


x = {{{40/4}}} = 10.


The three numbers are 10, 8, and 20.