document.write( "Question 334797: if the product of two consecutive odd integers is decreased by 3 the result is 12 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #239891 by vleith(2983) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Problems such as this can be solved in many ways. Since this one has such a small product, simple trial and error will get the result in short order.
\n" ); document.write( "1*3 = 3 nope
\n" ); document.write( "3*5 = 15 -3 = 12 there you go
\n" ); document.write( "Now, is there another answer too?
\n" ); document.write( "(-5)*(-3) = 15-3 = 12 wow. two answers.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's 'do the math'
\n" ); document.write( "Let the two integers be x and x+2
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%2A%28x%2B2%29%29+-3+=+12\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2+%2B+2x+-3+=+12\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2+%2B+2x+-15+=+0\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%2B5%29%28x-3%29=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( "So x = -5 or x = 3
\n" ); document.write( "thus there are two sets of answers
\n" ); document.write( "x = -5 and -3
\n" ); document.write( "x = 3 and 5\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Just as we found via trial and error
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