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