document.write( "Question 1166936: Find three consecutive positive odd integers in which the product of the smallest and the largest interger is 357 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #791494 by ikleyn(52781) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "Let x be the middle odd number between the smallest and the largest.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then you have this equation\r\n" );
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document.write( "    (x-2)*(x+2) = 357,   or\r\n" );
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document.write( "     x^2 - 4 = 357\r\n" );
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document.write( "     x^2 = 357 + 4 = 361\r\n" );
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document.write( "     x =  = 19.\r\n" );
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document.write( "ANSWER.  The three numbers are 17, 19 and 21.\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Notice how this introduction of the middle value as a major unknown facilitates the solution.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "MEMORIZE this trick --- it works and is useful in many similar problems (!)\r
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