Question

There are two consecutive even numbers such that four times the smaller number minus one is three times the greater number. What is the smaller number?

Answer 1

Choose x to be the smaller of the two numbers.
x is the smaller even number.

Now let's look at even numbers:
0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Notice that the difference between one number and the next is always 2.

If we use x to be the smaller of the two even numbers,
then the larger one will be x + 2

Our two even numbers are
x and
x + 2

Answer 2

"four times the smaller number" means:
4x

"four times the smaller number minus one" means:
4x - 1

"three times the greater number" means
3(x + 2)

That means this equation is true:

4x - 1 = 3(x + 2)

Now you need to solve the equation for x to find the smaller number.

Answer 3

for "two consecutive even numbers "

"four times the smaller number" - will be even
"four times the smaller number minus one" - will be odd
"three times the greater number" - will be even

Answer 4

@IrishBoy123
That is true, but how does it help here?

Answer 5

an odd number can't equal an even number

Answer 6

Good point.
I think the problem should read "There are two consecutive odd numbers ..."