Question

the sum of three consecutive even numbers is 78. What is the first number

Answer 1

3x + 3 = 78
3x = 75
x = 25
So the three numbers are 25, 26, and 27.

Answer 2

even consecutive numbers are 2 apart
(2,4,6, example)
so they are
n,n+2,n+4
their sum is 78
n+n+2+n+4=78
3n+6=78
minus 6
3n=72
divide 3
n=24
smallest is 24