How do you find three consecutive odd integers such that the sum of the first and second is 27 less than three times the third?

1 Answer
Apr 28, 2016

Another method

The numbers are #17, 19, 21#

Explanation:

Let the first odd number be #n#

Breaking the question down into its key parts

'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three consecutive odd number#->n" ; "n+2" ; "n+4#

Sum of first and second numbers:#->n+n+2#

Is:#->n+n+2=#

27 less:#->n+n+2=?-27#

than three times the third:#->n+n+2=3(n+4)-27#
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#=>2n+2=3n+12-27#

#=>2n+2=3n-15#

#=>3n-2n=2+15#

#=>n=17#

The numbers are #17, 19, 21#