Question

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

Answer 1

72:3=24
24-1=23
24+1=25

23+24+25=72
23 is the smallest

Answer 2

Because the needed numbers are consecutive their average will be the middle number. Knowing this, just divide 72 by three, which would equal 24. 24 would be the middle number so, 23+24+25=72. The smallest of these is 23.