Question

The sum of two consecutive odd integers is 56. What is the smaller number?
need answer /help

Answer 1

Let's say you had a number - a random number, call it X.

Answer 2

Do you know what a consecutive number is ?

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

Okay, what would a consecutive number to X look like ?

Answer 5

Let x = a random integer, then we can say:
2x would be an even integer.......we could then say:
2x + 1 would be an odd integer. Now the next odd integer could be expressed as:
2x + 1 + 2 or 2x + 3
Now back to the problem:"The sum of two consecutive odd integers is 56. What is the smaller number?
2x + 1 first odd integer (and smallest)
2x + 3 2nd odd and consecutive integer. Now add
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4x + 4 = 56
4x = 56 - 4 = 52
x = 13
2x + 1 = 27 First odd and smallest integer
2x + 3 = 29 Second and consecutive odd integer.
27 + 29 = 56 Verification.