240
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Following a 4 step process, the stated problem can be solved as follows:
Step 1: Define the variable(s)
Let x = the first consecutive negative integer
Let x+1 = the second consecutive negative integer
Let x+2 = the third consecutive negative integer
Step 2: Write an equation
x + (x+1) + (x+2) = -237
Step 3: Solve the equation
Drop the parenthesis as they were not needed... just added to show that the equation involved adding the three integers as defined in step 1. Adding like terms provides the next step.
3x + 3 = -237
Subtracting 3 from each side yields:
3x = -240
Dividing both sides by 3 yields the following:
x = -80
Step 4: Answer the question
Using the variables in step one, the three numbers would be as follows:
x = the first consecutive negative integer = -80
x+1 = the second consecutive negative integer = -79
x+2 = the third consecutive negative integer = -78
There is no solution.Consecutive negative integers will always add up to a negative number. 110 is positive.
240
The integers are -11, -9 and -7.
This is impossible, in mathematical terms. If you take two consecutive integers, then one of the integers must be odd and the other must be even. When you add an odd number to an even number, the result is always an odd number. Here, you said two consecutive integers add up to 26, which is an even number. Therefore, the answer is "No real solutions."
If the larger of the two integers is negative, then their sum is negative, regardless of the sign of the smaller one.