Three consecutive integers have a sum of 87. find the integers.

If n represents the smallest number, then the other two numbers will be (n + 1) and (n + 2)

Write an equation based on the problem

The smallest number and the other two numbers have a sum of 87. It could be written as follows.

n + (n + 1) + (n + 2) = 87

This is the equation

Find the value of n to find the smallest integer.

n + n + 1 + n + 2 = 87

add like terms, variable with variable, constant with constant

n + n + n + 1 + 2 = 87

3n + 3 = 87

solve for n

3n = 87 - 3

3n = 84

n = 84/3

n = 28

The smallest integer is 28

Find the other two integers

The middle number

n + 1 = 28 + 1 = 29

The biggest number

n + 2 = 28 + 2 = 30

The integers are 28, 29, 30