SOLUTION: the difference of the squares of two consecutive negative integers is 9. find the integers.

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Question 274188: the difference of the squares of two consecutive negative integers is 9. find the integers.
Answer by fractalier(6550) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the two integers be x and x+1.
Their squares are then x^2 and (x+1)^2.
Their difference is equal to 9, so we write
x^2 - (x+1)^2 = 9
Now expand
x^2 - (x^2 + 2x + 1) = 9
x^2 - x^2 - 2x - 1 = 9
-2x - 1 = 9
-2x = 10
x = -5
x+1 = -4