document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=884075>Question 884075</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have a very good idea of how to set up the problem, but I know that I'm missing something.  The problem is \"The difference of the squares of two consecutive whole numbers is 31.  What is the smaller number? <BR>\n" );
document.write( "I set it up as follows:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2-X^2-2x-2=31.  But I know that this yields an incorrect result, could you perhaps point me in the right direction? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #533980 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=533980\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> let x be the first whole number<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2=x^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let x+1 be the next whole number <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+1)^2=x^2+2x+1\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "(x+1)^2-x^2=31<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2+2x+1-x^2=31\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2x+1=31<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x=30<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+1=16<BR>\n" );
document.write( "check<BR>\n" );
document.write( "16^2=256<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15^2=225<BR>\n" );
document.write( "256-225=31\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "ok<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );