document.write( "Question 277116: Find 3 consecutive numbers where the product of the smaller two numbers is 37 less than the square of the largest number. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #201815 by muffin8(5)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=the highest number.
\n" ); document.write( "The numbers are consecutive so they are 1 away from each other.
\n" ); document.write( "The 3 numbers can be represented as:
\n" ); document.write( "x (the highest number)
\n" ); document.write( "x-1 (the next number below x)
\n" ); document.write( "x-2 (the second next number below x)
\n" ); document.write( "The problem says:
\n" ); document.write( "\"the product of the smaller two numbers\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x-2%29%28x-1%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"is 37 less than the square of the largest number\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2-37\"
\n" ); document.write( "the equation can be set up as:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x-2%29%28x-1%29=x%5E2-37\"
\n" ); document.write( "FOIL the left side:
\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2-3x%2B2=x%5E2-37\"
\n" ); document.write( "subtract \"x%5E2\" from both sides:
\n" ); document.write( "\"-3x%2B2=-37\"
\n" ); document.write( "add 2 to both sides:
\n" ); document.write( "\"-3x=-39\"
\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides by -3:
\n" ); document.write( "\"x=-13\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The numbers are 13,12 and 11.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Check your answer:
\n" ); document.write( "\"product of the smaller two numbers\"
\n" ); document.write( "11*12 = 132
\n" ); document.write( "\"is 37 less than the square of the largest number\"
\n" ); document.write( "13*13-37 = 132\r
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