The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 48. What is the smallest of these numbers?

the smallest number in the series is ##14##

you would start with ##(x)+(x+2)+(x+4)=48## because the numbers are even so they have to go up by multiples of ##2## and the sum is ##48## so you know you are adding you have to simplify the equation first ##3x+6=48## then subtract ##6## ##3x=42## divide by 3 ##x=14## the smallest number in the sequence is the ##x##