The sum of three positive integers is 42. The smallest integer is five less than the middle integer. The middle integer is two less than the greatest integer. Define a variable, write an equation and solve to find the three integers.
+18 You have to start by defining a variable. The easiest one here is to define the greatest as X, so the middle will be X-2 and the smallest (X-2-5)=X-7
Then you can write the equation as: X + (X-2) + (X-7) = 42 --> X=17
Which gives:
- Greatest = 17
- Middle = 17-2 = 15
- Smallest = 17-7 = 10
