To find the smallest of three consecutive numbers that sum up to 72, we first need to establish a mathematical representation of the problem.
Let the three consecutive numbers be represented as:
- x: the first number
- x + 1: the second number
- x + 2: the third number
Now, we can set up the equation based on their sum:
x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) = 72
This simplifies to:
3x + 3 = 72
Next, we subtract 3 from both sides:
3x = 72 – 3
3x = 69
Now, divide both sides by 3:
x = 69 / 3
x = 23
Thus, the three consecutive numbers are:
- First number (x): 23
- Second number (x + 1): 24
- Third number (x + 2): 25
In conclusion, the smallest of these three consecutive numbers is 23.