Answer:
10
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the value of the smaller integer, start by letting a variable be that integer. This helps us to refer to the integer with greater ease in our working.
Let the smaller integer be x.
Consecutive numbers refers to numbers coming after one another, such as 1, 2 and 3.
The next integer coming after the integer x would thus be (x +1). Three times the next consecutive integer would then be 3(x +1).
Subtract refers to a minus sign, thus the equation would be:
3(x +1) -x= 23
Expand:
3x +3 -x= 23
Simplify:
2x= 23 -3
2x= 20
Divide both sides by 2:
x= 20 ÷2
x= 10
Thus, the smaller integer is 10.
For a similar question on consecutive integers, check out: https://brainly.com/question/1753112
*Note that when b is subtracted from a, the expression would be a -b.
