Question

The sum of three consecutive even integers is –78. What are the integers?

Describe how you would use the strategy of writing an equation to solve the given problem

Answer 1

you need to write 3 consecutive EVEN numbers using only one variable. multiply by 2 to ensure the numbers are even. Add or subtract 2 to get the next consecutive number.
(2x - 2) , (2x) , (2x + 2)

add them up to equal -78
-78 = (2x-2) + 2x + (2x+2)
-78 = 6x
-78/6 = x
-13 = x

the numbers are: (2(-13)-2) , 2(-13) , (2(-13)+2)
-28, -26 , -24