The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 72. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

2k + 2 (k+1) + 2 (k+2) = 72

then dividing by 2 in both sides we have

3k + 3 = 36

dividing by 3 both sides

k+1 = 12

then we have k = 11

then, the numbers in the sequence are, 22, 24, 26, the smallest of the three numbers is 22.