Three friends all have ages that are consecutive integers. the sum of their ages is 48. what is the age of the oldest friend?

Since the ages are consecutive integers and if x is one of them, then I can write the following equation:

the 1st age=  x-1
the 2nd age = x
the 3rd age = x+1

(x-1) + (x) + (x+1) = 48

3x = 48 and x = 16

the 1st = 15
the 2nd = 16
the 3rd = 17 (the older)