Question

Three consecutive integers are n, n + 1, and n+ 2. Four time s the sun of the least and greatest integers is 12 less than three times the least integer. What is the least integer? (Answer is -4 but I need to know how to do it)

Answer 1

4 times the sum of the least and greatest integers ⇒ 4(n + n +2) = 4n + 8

12 less than three times the least integer ⇒ 3n - 12

4n + 8 = 3n - 12
4n -  3n + 8 = 3n - 3n - 12
n + 8 - 8 = -12 - 8
n = -20
-20, -19, -18 are the integers and the least is -20