Question

Two times the least of three consecutive odd integers exceeds three times the greatest by 15

Answer 1

Three consecutive odd integers would be x, x+2, and x+4 assuming x is an odd integer. The smallest of these is x. Two times x is 2x. The greatest integer is x+4. Three times this is 3 (x+4), and if you distribute you get 3x+12. If 2x exceeds this by 15, you would make it 3x+12-15. If you add the like terms, 12+(-15) is -3. So, you have 2x=3x-3. Subtract 3x from both sides. 2x-3x is -1x, or -x. Now we have -x=-3. Divide by -, or -1 on both sides. Now we have x=3. You can substitute x for 3 for any of the consecutive odd integers to find their value.