To find the smallest of the three consecutive even numbers that sum up to 48, we can start by defining the numbers. Let’s say the smallest even number is represented as x. The next two consecutive even numbers would then be x + 2 and x + 4.
Now, we can write the equation for their sum:
x + (x + 2) + (x + 4) = 48
Simplifying this, we combine like terms:
3x + 6 = 48
Next, we can solve for x by isolating it. First, we subtract 6 from both sides:
3x = 48 – 6
3x = 42
Now, we divide both sides by 3:
x = 42 / 3
x = 14
So, the smallest of the three consecutive even numbers is 14.
The three numbers are: 14, 16, and 18, and their sum is indeed 48.