Let the first number be x first number = x Second is 7 more than the first second number = x + 7 The third is 2 more than 4 times the second third number = 4(x+7)+ 2 = 4x + 28 + 2 = 4x + 30
sum of three numbers is 8.5 x + x + 7 + 4x + 30 = 8.5 6x + 37 = 8.5 6x = 8.5 - 37 6x = -28.5 x = - 4.75
first number = x = -4.75 second number = x + 7 = 2.25 third number = 4x + 30 = 4(-4.75) + 30 =11
