Answer: 14
<u>Step-by-step explanation:</u>
Consecutive even numbers would be {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ...}
Let x represent the smallest number, then x + 2 is the middle number and x + 4 is the largest number.
1st number: x
2nd number: x + 2
3rd number: x + 4
1st number + 2nd number + 3rd number = Sum
(x) + (x + 2) + (x + 4) = 48
3x + 6 = 48
3x = 42
x = 14
1st number: x ⇒ x = 14
2nd number: x + 2 ⇒ 14 + 2 = 16
3rd number: x + 4 ⇒ 14 + 4 = 18
<u>Check:</u>
14 + 16 + 18 = 48