The sum of three consecutive numbers is 72. What are the smallest of these numbers?

X + (x+1) + (x+2) = 72

3x=72-3

3x=69

X=23

23+24+25 = 72

Alright, from what you are given you can write an equation:

"x" can represent the largest of the number

"x-1" can represent the second largest of the number, only one less than the largest

"x-2" can represent the smallest of the number

So we have the equation:

(x-2) + (x-1) + x = 72

Combine like terms:

3x - 3 = 72

3x = 75

x = 25

Remember that x is the largest number, which is 25

to find the smallest, we can plug 25 back into the "x-2" equation, which represent the smallest number

25 - 2 = 23

So the smallest number is 23