Consecutive number word problems
The question
What is the smallest page number?
The numbers on 3 consecutive pages of a book add up to 288.
288 ÷ 3 = 96
288 ÷ 3 = 96
96 − 1 = 95
asked:What is the smallest page number?
95
- Read it through. Consecutive numbers go up by 1, so the middle one is the average.
- Find the middle: the sum divided by how many numbers there are — 288 ÷ 3 = 96.
- The others are one step either side of the middle: 96 − 1 = 95.
- Answer the question that was asked — "What is the smallest page number?" — 95.
How it works.
- 01
Read it through. Consecutive numbers go up by 1, so the middle one is the average.
- 02
Find the middle: the sum divided by how many numbers there are — 288 ÷ 3 = 96.
- 03
The others are one step either side of the middle: 96 − 1 = 95.
- 04
Answer the question that was asked — "What is the smallest page number?" — 95.