This section this textbook explains how to translate the situations described in word problems to equations and provides a variety of examples. Read the chapter and work through the problems. Some examples involved the geometric facts you have learned in Unit 2.
The sum of three consecutive integers is . What are the integers?
Sometimes we will work consecutive even or odd integers, rather than just consecutive integers. When we had consecutive integers, we only had to add to get to the next number so we had , , and for our first, second, and third number respectively. With even or odd numbers they are spaced apart by two. So if we want three consecutive even numbers, if the first is , the next number would be , then finally add two more to get the third, . The same is true for consecutive odd numbers, if the first is , the next will be , and the third would be . It is important to note that we are still adding and even when the numbers are odd. This is because the phrase "odd" is referring to our , not to what is added to the numbers. Consider the next two examples.