Story prob: Three consecutive odd integers are such that....

[Teresa Ariss]

Story problem:

Three consecutive odd integers are such that 3 times the smallest is 9 more than twice the largest. Find the number.

How do I write it out?

 

[tkhunny]

Rule #1 - Name Stuff. That is how you write it out.

Name one of the odd integers. Just for fun, let's name the MIDDLE one.

X = The middle of the three consecutive odd integers.

This makes X - 2 the first of the three consecutive odd integers and X + 2 the greatest of the three.

Okay, now what?

 

[Mrspi]

Re: Story problem

Three consecutive odd integers are such that 3 times the smallest is 9 more than twice the largest. Find the number.

Consecutive odd integers, like 5, 7, 9 or 21, 23, 25, differ by 2...that is, each of them is 2 more than the one that came before it.

So, if we
let x = the first of the consecutive odd integers, then
x + 2 = the next one, and
x + 4 = the one after that

the problem says that "three times the smallest"....ok, the smallest is x, and three times that would be 3x.....

"is"....that's where the equals sign goes

"9 more than twice the largest". The largest is (x + 4). Two times that would be 2(x + 4). And 9 more than that is 2(x + 4) + 9

3x = 2(x + 4) + 9

Solve that for x...which will be the value of the smallest of the integers. The other two would be x + 2 and x + 4.

I hope this helps you.

 

[Teresa Ariss]

Thank you very much for your time. It was very helpful. I think I am finally getting this story problem thing.?????