The sum of three consecutive numbers is 72. What are the smallest of these numbers?

Solution:

Let the three consecutive numbers be x, x + 1, x + 2.

Given that the sum of the three numbers is 72

⇒ x + x +1 + x + 2 = 72

⇒ 3x + 3 = 72

⇒ 3x = 72 - 3

⇒ 3x = 69

⇒ x = 69/3

⇒ x = 23

The three consecutive numbers are

23, 23 + 1, 23 + 2

Therefore, the three consecutive numbers are 23 , 24 , 25.

Therefore, the smallest number out of three consecutive numbers is 23.

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The sum of three consecutive numbers is 72. What are the smallest of these numbers?

Summary:

If the sum of three consecutive numbers is 72 then the smallest of these numbers is 23.

Verification = 23 + 24 + 25 = 72.