Question

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

Answer 1

Let us assume the three consecutive even numbers of series to be $x,x+2$ and $x+4$.

So, the sum of the consecutive even numbers $=48$

$\begin{array}{rcl}48& =& x+x+2+x+4\\ 3x+6& =& 48\\ 3x& =& 48-6\\ 3x& =& 42\\ x& =& \frac{42}{3}\\ x& =& 14\end{array}$

So, the three numbers are $14,16$ and $18$.

Hence, the smallest number among these are $14$.