SOLUTION: Thanks in advance for your help... Here's my problem- The product of two consecutive positive odd integers is 38 less than the square of the greater integer. Find the intege

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Thanks in advance for your help... Here's my problem- The product of two consecutive positive odd integers is 38 less than the square of the greater integer. Find the intege      Log On


   

Question 274372: Thanks in advance for your help...
Here's my problem-
The product of two consecutive positive odd integers is 38 less than the square of the greater integer. Find the integers.
Now I know that product means mulitiplication so I thought I set the problem up as such:
x(x+2)= (x+2)^2-38.
Would this be correct?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You have the right equation. Now let's solve for 'x'.

x%28x%2B2%29=+%28x%2B2%29%5E2-38 Start with the given equation.


x%5E2%2B2x=+%28x%2B2%29%5E2-38 Distribute


x%5E2%2B2x=+x%5E2%2B4x%2B4-38 FOIL


2x=+4x%2B4-38 Subtract x%5E2 from both sides.


2x=4x-34 Combine like terms on the right side.


2x-4x=-34 Subtract 4x from both sides.


-2x=-34 Combine like terms on the left side.


x=%28-34%29%2F%28-2%29 Divide both sides by -2 to isolate x.


x=17 Reduce.


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Answer:

So the solution is x=17


So the two numbers are 17 and 19.