The sum of three consecutive even integersis –78. What are the integers?Describe how you would use the strategy of writing an equation to solve the given problem.

Answer:

To solve the problem, let x be the smallest even integer. The next two consecutive even integers would then be x + 2 and x + 4. Set up the equation x + (x + 2) + (x + 4) = –78. Simplify the equation to 3x + 6 = –78. Solve for x by subtracting 6 from both sides to get 3x = –84, and then dividing by 3 to find x = –28. The three consecutive even integers are –28, –26, and –24. You can check the answer by adding them together: –28 + (–26) + (–24) = –78.