The sum of three consecutive even integers

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Question from Pauleen:

Translate this into algebraic expression
The sum of three consecutive even integers, if x is the first even integer

Hi Pauleen,

Suppose 18 is the smallest of the three even integers. What is the second? What is the third? How did you get from the first to the second? How did you get from the second to the third?

Suppose 56 is the smallest of the three even integers. What is the second? What is the third? How did you get from the first to the second? How did you get from the second to the third?

Suppose $x$ is the smallest of the three even integers. What is the second? What is the third? What is the sum of the three numbers? Simplify the expression.

Penny

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