document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=256845>Question 256845</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am homeschooling my teens.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "One problem said, \"Find three consecutive even integers whose sum is 108.\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( " Okay so, Let X = 1st Integer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "          x + 2 = 2nd Integer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "          x + 4 = 3rd Integer\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "My problem is the next problem.  It states...\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "\"Find five consecutive odd integers whose sum is 85.\"\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "According to the Teachers Edition, it figures it the same way...<BR>\n" );
document.write( " \"Let X = 1st Integer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  x + 2 = 2nd Integer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  x + 4 = 3rd and so on\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Shouldn't it be odd?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  Let X = 1st Integer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  x + 3 = 2nd Integer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "  x + 5 = 3rd and so on?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Of course, then it does not divide evenly.  I am confused.  How do you work an even problem the same way as on odd?  Thank you for your help.  A mom in need.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Belinda Esper  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #188888 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><B>richwmiller(17219)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=richwmiller><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=188888\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Generally it does not matter if you use n, n+2 for odd or even.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If it bothers you, you can use  2n+1 for an odd number.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Remember the letters are variables they stand for something but are not the numbers themselves until you put them in the problem.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Using n and n+1 for odd in one problem and even in the next is not much different that using x for 25 in one problem and 26 in another.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The variables take on the value of the problem.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "n+n+2n+4=108\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "n+n+2+n+4+n+6+n+8=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5n+20=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5n=65<BR>\n" );
document.write( "n=13<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "19<BR>\n" );
document.write( "21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "13+15+17+19+21=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now try it with your numbers<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+x+3+x+5+x+7+x+9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x+24=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x=61=12.2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Just wrong<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2n+1+2n+3+2n+5+2n+7+2n+9=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "10n+25=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "10n=60<BR>\n" );
document.write( "n=6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now the first odd number is 2n+1=26+1=13 same as in the problem you didn't like.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+3+x+5+x+7+x+9+x+11=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x+35=85<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5x=50<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "but our first number is x+3 =13\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now why did mine work and your didn't?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "your first number was x and your second number was x+3 with a difference of 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "But what about your second and third numbers<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+3 and x+5 have a difference of two!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So your numbers are not all even nor all odd!<BR>\n" );
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