Let x be the smaller odd integer. Then the larger odd integer is x + 2, since they are consecutive. The problem says that the larger odd integer is three times the smaller, so we can write an equation: x + 2 = 3x. To solve for x, we can subtract x from both sides: 2 = 2x. Then we can divide both sides by 2: 1 = x. So the smaller odd integer is 1, and the larger one is 1 + 2 = 3. Their sum is 1 + 3 = 4. 
The larger of two consecutive odd integers is three times the smaller.  What is their sum?