How  do you  solve The sum of three consecutive integers is -66 Find the integers

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Hi Melenie131,           To solve this problem, we need to set up an equation. First, we set our our equals value ( in this case the sum of the integers which is -66)  Now, we can set some variables. We can use the information givin to do this.We know there are three consecutive intergers adding up to -66. (These intergers are most likley negative). Lets call the first of the three intergers X. We proceed  by adding the second interger, which we can label X-1. (This occurs by use of the rule of signs, if I had -1 and added -1 to it, the sum would be -2 I can keep going consecutivly in this manner) By this logic, we add the third interger we label as X-2. What we have done is set up an linear equation to solve this problem. X+(X-1)+(X-2)= -66 mutiplying numbers and X's gives us: 3X-3=-66 Adding three over gives : 3X=-63 Dividing by 3 gives : X=-21 Is this the answer? To find out, plug the X value into the original equation. -21+(-21-1)+(-21-2)= -66  intergers are -21,-22, -23 Ben