SOLUTION: Find three consecutive positive even integers such that the product of the second and third integers is twenty more than ten times the first integer.
Question 276222: Find three consecutive positive even integers such that the product of the second and third integers is twenty more than ten times the first integer. Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
Let represent the smallest of the three integers. Then the next consecutive even integer must be , and the one after that must be .
The product of the second and the third:
Ten times the first plus 20:
and, Bill Clinton notwithstanding, "is" means equals in this context so:
Put into standard form:
Solve this factorable quadratic. Exclude the negative root because the problem asks for positive even integers. The positive root is the smallest of the three consecutive even integers. The other two follow directly.
Super Double-Plus Extra Credit
How would you respond if the problem were reworded by removing the word "positive," thus:
Find three consecutive even integers such that the product of the second and third integers is twenty more than ten times the first integer.
