SOLUTION: What is the least possible difference between the sum of 2 consecutive odd integers and the sum of 2 consecutive even integers when both odd integers are greater than both ev

Algebra.Com
Question 1050569: What is the least possible difference between the sum
of 2 consecutive odd integers and the sum of 2 consecutive
even integers when both odd integers are greater than both
even integers.

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

It would seem that it would be 6 because 
(5+7)-(2+4) = 12-6 = 6

Let's prove that:

Let the two consecutive odd integers be 2x+1 and 2x+3,
Let the two consecutive even integers be 2y and 2y+2,

where x and y are integers.

Since both odd integers are greater than both even integers,
the smaller odd integer must be greater than the larger 
even integer, so

2x+1 > 2y+2
2x-2y > 1
x-y > 0.5

so the least x-y can be is 1.

It CAN be 1 because in the example mentioned at the top,

(5+7)-(2+4) = 12-6 = 6

5=2*2+1, 7=2*2+3, 2=2*1, 4=2*2, the case when x=2 and y=1,
and thus x-y = 2-1 = 1.

The difference between the sum of those 2 consecutive odd 
integers and the sum of the 2 consecutive even integers is

(2x+1 + 2x+3) - (2y + 2y+2) = (4x+4) - (4y+2) =

4x+4 - 4y-2 = 4x-4y+2 = 4(x-y)+2,

The least x-y can be is 1, and it CAN be 1, so
the least their difference 4(x-y)+2 can be is when x-y=1,
or 4(1)+2 = 6

So we have proved that the least possible difference between 
the sum of 2 consecutive odd integers and the sum of 2 
consecutive even integers when both odd integers are greater 
than both even integers is 6.

Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS

The sum of 10 consecutive even integers is 250. What is the difference between the... (answered by math_helper,Alan3354)
The sum of three consecutive odd integers is greater than 30. What are the least possible (answered by Maths68)
find the least of 2 consecutive odd integers whose sum is... (answered by Fombitz)
The sum of two consecutive even integers is 30. What number is the least of the two... (answered by ikleyn)
1. If the product of two consecutive odd integers is 783, what is the sum of their... (answered by stanbon,Alan3354)
The sum of the squares of four consecutive odd integers is 36. What is the difference... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy)
The sum of two consecutive odd integers is at least 36. What are the... (answered by TimothyLamb)
3 consecutive odd integers has a sum of 117 what is the least of these integers (answered by greenestamps)
What is the sum of all consecutive odd integers between 1 and... (answered by Earlsdon)