The sum of three consecutive numbers is 51 . What is the smallest of these numbers?
Let $n$ represent the smallest number of the set.
Equation or Inequality:
The smallest of these numbers is
\(\boxed{16}\) is the smallest of these numbers.
Step 1 :Let the smallest number be n, then the three consecutive numbers are n, n+1, and n+2. The sum of these numbers is 51: \(n + (n+1) + (n+2) = 51\)
Step 2 :Combine like terms: \(3n + 3 = 51\)
Step 3 :Subtract 3 from both sides: \(3n = 48\)
Step 4 :Divide both sides by 3: \(n = 16\)
Step 5 :\(\boxed{16}\) is the smallest of these numbers.