The sum of three consecutive even numbers is one hundred seventy - four. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

57

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the numbers by represented by x, y and z respectively. Taking x as the largest, and z as the smallest, we can rewrite them as follows.

x = x

y = x-1

z = y-1 = (x-1)-1 = x-2

We know x+y+z=174, so sub in the new values.

x + y + z = 174

x + (x-1) + (x-2) = 174

3x - 3 = 174

3x = 177

∴ x = 59

∴ x - 59, y = 58, and z = 57.

The smallest number, z, is equal to 57.

total of apples - take away four

6-4 = 2

answer is 2 apples