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

• - 28, - 26 and - 24

Explanation:

The difference between two consecutive even integers is 2.

Let the first of the three integers is x, then the following ones are:

x + 2 and x + 4.

The sum of the three is - 78. Express it as equation and solve for x:

• x + x + 2 + x + 4 = - 78
• 3x + 6 = - 78
• 3x = - 84
• x = - 84/3
• x = - 28

The integers are - 28, - 26 and - 24