odd numbers are represented as 2n+1 where 2 is a natural number ( negative and possitive whole numbers)
consecutive odd numbers are 2 away from each other so 3 consecutive odd numbers would be (2n+1),(2n+1+2),(2n+1+2+2) the all add to -15 so they must all be negative 2n+1+2n+1+2+2n+1+2+2=-15 add like terms 6n+9=-15 subtract 9 from both sides 6n=-24 divide both sides by 6 n=-4 subsitute first number=2n+1=2(-4)+1=-8+1=-7 second number=2n+1+2=2(-4)+3=-8+3=-5 third number=2n+1+2+2=-8+5=-3