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Question 420330: find two consecutive even whole numbers whose product is 288
Answer by algebrahouse.com(1659)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! "find two consecutive even whole numbers whose product is 288"
x = 1st consecutive even number
x + 2 = 2nd consecutive even number
x(x + 2) = 288 {their product is 288}
x^2 + 2x = 288 {used distributive property}
x^2 + 2x - 288 = 0 {subtracted 288 from both sides}
(x + 18)(x - 16) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
x + 18 = 0 or x - 16 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}
x = -18 or x = 16 {solved each equation for x}
x + 2 = -16 or x + 2 = 18 {substituted -18 and 16,in for x, into x + 2}
the consecutive even numbers could be -18,-16 or 16,18
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