The sum of three consecutive numbers is 72. what are the smallest of these numbers?

Because the needed numbers are consecutive their average will be the middle number. Knowing this, just divide 72 by three, which would equal 24. 24 would be the middle number so, 23+24+25=72. The smallest of these is 23.

step-by-step explanation:

step 1: solve one of the equations for one of the variables. let's solve the first equation for y:

step 2: substitute that equation into the other equation, and solve for x.

step 3: substitute x = 4 x = 4 x=4 into one of the original equations, and solve for y.

5x + 3y = - 4

step-by-step explanation:

the equation of a line in standard form is

ax + by = c ( a is a positive integer and b, c are integers )

express the line first of all in slope- intercept form

y = mx + c ( m is the slope and c the y-intercept )

to calculate m use the gradient formula

m = ( y₂ - y₁ ) / ( x₂ - x₁ )

with (x₁, y₁ ) = (7, - 3) and (x₂, y₂ ) = (4, - 8)

m = = -

y = - x + c ← is the partial equation

to find c substitute either of the 2 points into the partial equation

using (4, - 8 ), then

- 8 = - + c ⇒ c = -

y = - x - ← in slope-intercept form

multiply all terms by 3 to eliminate the fractions

3y = - 5x - 4 ( add 5x to both sides )

5x + 3y = - 4 ← in standard form