Question

What are consecutive numbers?

-The sum of TWO consecutive whole numbers is 99. What are they?

-The sum of THREE consecutive whole numbers is 99. What are they?

Can someone please show me if there is working out? (if needed)

Answer 1

consecutive numbers are numbers which are next to each other. for example, 2 and 3 are consecutive. also, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are consecutive.

for the first question,
first, we represent the unknowns using variables.
let x = first number
let x+1 = second number
note that the second number is x+1 because they are consecutive, and thus the difference between them is 1.
then we set-up the equation. since it's said in the problem that their sum is 99,
x + (x + 1) = 99
then we solve for x:
2x + 1 = 99
2x = 99 - 1
2x = 98
(2x)/2 = 98/2
x = 49
x+1 = 50

for the second problem, we do the same. in this case, there are three unknowns:
let x = first number
let x+1 = second number
let x+2 = third number
then set-up equation:
x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) = 99
and solve for x,
3x + 3 = 99
3x = 99 - 3
3x = 96
(3x)/3 = 96/3
x = 32
x+1 = 33
x+2 = 34

hope this helps~ :)