Question

If the sum of two positive consecutive integers is a, what is the value of the smaller integer in terms of a?

Answer 1

WHY AND HOW?

Answer 2

the mean of the 2 integers is a/2

so to find the lower integer subtract 1/2 from the mean of the integers...

so the lower integer is (a -1)/2

here is an example


4 + 5 = 9

9/2 = 4.5

subtract 1/2

leaves the lower integer as 4...

hope this make sense

Answer 3

Another way to get the same result as @campbell_st is as follows:
Let the smaller integer = x
Then the larger integer = x + 1
x + x + 1 = a
2x = a - 1
x = (a - 1)/2

Answer 4

You're on the right track @campbell_st, but you showed the problem as 2 consecutive numbers, but the OP stated that the sum is of 2 consecutive POSITIVE integers.

So for this you would simply divide the sum by 2, and then taking that quotient (Q), the 2 consecutive positive integers would be Q-1 and Q+1