SOLUTION: The product of two consecutive integers is 240. Find the integers. (Consecutive means following, like 11, 12). You must show your work to receive credit on this one (i.e. no guess

Algebra ->  Average -> SOLUTION: The product of two consecutive integers is 240. Find the integers. (Consecutive means following, like 11, 12). You must show your work to receive credit on this one (i.e. no guess      Log On


   

Question 467001: The product of two consecutive integers is 240. Find the integers. (Consecutive means following, like 11, 12). You must show your work to receive credit on this one (i.e. no guessing).

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the two consecutive integers be: %28a%29 and %28a%2B1%29,then:
%28a%29%28a%2B1%29+=+240 Simplify.
a%5E2%2Ba+=+240 Subtract 240 from both sides.
a%5E2%2Ba-240+=+0 Solve by factoring.
%28a-15%29%28a%2B16%29+=+0 Apply the zero product rule.
a-15+=+0 or a%2B16+=+0 so that:
a+=+15 or a+=+-16
There are two answers to this problem:
1) Consecutive integers: 15 and 16.
2) Consecutive integers: -16 and -15.