Q. The sum of three consecutive even integers is 0 . Find the value of the least of the three.Answer:
Identify First Even Integer: Let x be the first even integer. Since we are dealing with consecutive even integers, the next two integers would be x+2 and x+4. Consecutive even integers: x, x+2, x+4
Set Up Equation: Set up an equation that represents the sum of the three consecutive even integers equal to 0.Equation: x+(x+2)+(x+4)=0
Simplify Equation: Simplify the left side of the equation x+(x+2)+(x+4)=0.x+(x+2)+(x+4)=0(x+x+x)+(2+4)=03x+6=0
Isolate Variable Term: Isolate the variable term in 3x+6=0. 3x+6=0 3x+6−6=0−6 3x=−6
Solve for x: Solve for x.3x=−633x=3−6x=−2
Final Result: We have found that x=−2. This is the value of the least of the three consecutive even integers.The three consecutive even integers are:x,x+2,x+4−2,−2+2,−2+4−2,0,2