Expert: Sherry Wallin - 9/9/2009

Question
Find three consecutive integers such that twice the least integer is 12 more than the greatest integer.

Answer
Hi Rose~
    Consecutive integers are 'next' to each other so if you let the first one be x then the next is x+1 and the next after that is x+2. Now you want twice the least (which here is x so use 2x for twice) to be 12 more than the greatest (here your 'greatest' is x+2). This gives us 2x = x+2 + 12. Now solve for x: 2x = x + 14  and so x = 14. Since the integers are 'consecutive' and x was the smallest integer, the integers must be 14,15,16. Check to make sure that twice the least integer is 12 more than the greatest integer. Is 2(14)= 28, 12 more than 16? Well 12 more than 16 is 28 also so yes this is a correct answer.

Math Prof