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

these numbers?

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

x + (x + 2) + (x + 4) = 72

3x = 72

x + y + z = 72

The smallest number is 23

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x be the first number

x+1 is the next consecutive number

x+2 is the next consecutive number

The sum is

x + x+1 + x+2 = 72

Combine like terms

3x+3 = 72

subtract 3 from each side

3x+3-3 = 72-3

3x = 69

Divide each side by 3

3x/3 = 69/3

x = 23

x+1 = 24

x+2 = 25

The numbers are

23,24,25