Question

The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 156
What is the smallest of the three numbers

Answer 1

or, just note that 156/3 = 52
So if the three numbers were all the same, they'd be 52,52,52
But, we want three consecutive even numbers, so lower one and raise the other: 50, 52, 54

had they been just three consecutive numbers, that'd be 51,52,53

Answer 2

Let's assume that the smallest of the three consecutive even numbers is x.

Since the numbers are consecutive even numbers, the next two even numbers will be x+2 and x+4.

According to the problem, the sum of these three numbers is 156.

So, we can write an equation:

x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 156

Simplifying the equation:

3x + 6 = 156

Subtracting 6 from both sides:

3x = 150

Dividing both sides by 3:

x = 50

Therefore, the smallest of the three consecutive even numbers is 50.

The three consecutive even numbers are: 50, 52, and 54.