document.write( "Question 189366: what is the smallest of three positive consecutive odd integers if the product of the second and third intergers is 63?? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #142054 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Call the 3 consecutive odd integers
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a\"$ , $\"a+%2B+2\"$ , and $\"a+%2B+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28a+%2B+2%29%28a+%2B+4%29+=+63\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%5E2+%2B+6a+%2B+8+=+63\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%5E2+%2B+6a+=+55\"$
\n" ); document.write( "I'll use complete the square method:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%5E2+%2B+6a++%2B+%286%2F2%29%5E2+=+55+%2B+%286%2F2%29%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a%5E2+%2B+6a++%2B+9+=+55+%2B+9\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28a+%2B+3%29%5E2+=+64\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Take the square root of both sides
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+%2B+3+=+8\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+=+5\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+%2B+3+=+-8\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+=+-11\"$ (I can't use a negative result)
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+=+5\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+%2B+2+=+7\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+%2B+4+=+9\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(notice that $\"7%2A9+=+63\"$ )
\n" ); document.write( "The smallest number is $\"5\"$ \n" ); document.write( "

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