There are three consecutive odd integers. Three times the largest is seven times the smallest. What are the integers?

Question
Answer:
Hello there!

This is how I would map out this problem...

First I would represent the smallest integer with the variable x. Since they are consecutive odd integers, add 2 to the middle integer and add 4 to the largest.

smallest: x
middle: x+2
largest: x+4

Now we need to find a way to solve for x. Since 3 times the largest is 7 times the smallest, we can set up an equation like this...
3(x+4)=7x

Now solve it!
3(x+4)=7x
3x+12=7x
12=4x
x=3

Now let's go back to our original data...
smallest: x
•Since the smallest is x, that means the smallest is going to be 3.
middle: x+2
•since the middle one is x+2, plug in 3 for x and we get 5.
largest: x+4
•since the largest is x+4, plug in 3 for x and we get 7.

This means the answer is...
Smallest: 3
Middle: 5
Largest: 7

I really hope this helps!
Best wishes :)

solved
general 10 months ago 1647