You would first write this problem as an equation. Let's use x as the variable:
3x + (x - 2) + (x - 4) + (x - 6) + (x - 8) + (x - 10) + (x - 12) = 156
Simplify the equation by combining like terms (the x's and constants):
3x + 6x - 42 = 156
9x - 42 = 156
Add 42 to both sides:
9x = 198
Divide by 9:
x = 22
Now x represents the number of blocks in the bottom 3 rows. For the next 6 rows, just subtract two blocks from the row below it.
For example, the fourth row (from the bottom up) would be (x - 2) = 20 blocks.
The 5th row would be (x - 4) = 18 rows, and so on and so forth:)