The integers are (n-1), n, (n+1), and (n-1)*(n+1) = 4n + 59, or n^2 - 1 = 4n + 59, which implies n^2 - 4n - 60 = 0, (n-10)*(n+6) = 0. So, the middle integer can be either 10 or -6. And since the integers are negative, the only possibility is that the three numbers are -7, -6, -5. This and only this triple satisfies the problem's condition.
Let the middle integer be x, then the first one is x-1 and the third one is x+1. x-1 = smallest x = middle x+1 = largest The product of the first and third of three negative consecutive integers That's (x-1)(x+1) is 59 more than 4 times the second integer. Find the integers. That's 4x + 59 (x-1)(x+1) = 4x + 59 x2 - 1 = 4x + 59 x2 - 4x - 60 = 0 (x + 6)(x - 10) = 0 x + 6 = 0; x - 10 = 0 x = -6; x = 10 We are told that the integers are negative, so we discard x=10 x-1 = smallest = -6-1 = -7 x = middle = -6 x+1 = largest = -6+1 = -5 Checking the words: The product of the first and third... (-7)(-5) = 35 ...is 59 more than 4 times the second integer. That's 59 more than 4 times -6, which is -24. Sure enough,' it's true that (-24) + 59 = 35. Edwin