The sum of three numbers is 81 and their ratio is 3:7:17. What is the value of the smallest number?

Add up the ratios 3:7:17 to get 27.

Since ratios can be scaled, we can scale the ratios to have a sum of 81 by multiplying the ratios by 3,i.e.
3:7:17 �ß 9:21:51.

To find the value of the smallest number, we need to find the values of the other two numbers first.

Let's assume the three numbers are 3x, 7x, and 17x (where x is a common factor).

Now we can write an equation based on the given information:

3x + 7x + 17x = 81

Combining like terms, we get:

27x = 81

Dividing both sides of the equation by 27, we get:

x = 3

Now we can substitute x back into our expressions for the three numbers:

Smallest number: 3x = 3 * 3 = 9

Therefore, the value of the smallest number is 9.

To find the value of the smallest number, we first need to find the values of the other two numbers.

We are given that the sum of the three numbers is 81. Let's call the three numbers 3x, 7x, and 17x, where x is a common multiplier.

So, we have the equation 3x + 7x + 17x = 81, which simplifies to 27x = 81.

Dividing both sides of the equation by 27, we get x = 3.

Now, we can find the values of the three numbers:

The smallest number is 3x = 3 * 3 = 9.

Therefore, the value of the smallest number is 9.