The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 144. What is the smallest of these numbers?
Answer: A
Let the three consecutive even numbers be \(x, x+2, x+4\).
Their sum is \(x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 144\).
\(3x + 6 = 144\).
\(3x = 138\).
\(x = 46\).
The numbers are 46, 48, and 50. The smallest number is 46.