SOLUTION: 29. The product of two consecutive odd whole numbers is 143. Find the numbers.

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Question 74398This question is from textbook Prentice Hall Algebra 1 Practice Workbook
: 29. The product of two consecutive odd whole numbers is 143. Find the numbers.
This question is from textbook Prentice Hall Algebra 1 Practice Workbook

Found 2 solutions by Edwin McCravy, rmromero:
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20059) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The product of two consecutive odd whole numbers
is 143. Find the numbers. 


There is no solution. You can try for one, but 
the sum of any two ODD numbers must be EVEN, but 
143 is ODD!

You can try with

n + (n+2) = 143

n + n + 2 = 143
   2n + 2 = 143
       2n = 131
        n = 65.5, which is NOT an integer, and
therefore shows there is no solution.

Edwin

Answer by rmromero(383) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The product of two consecutive odd whole numbers is 143. Find the numbers.



What is asked in the problem?



      Find the numbers





Given:

 the product of two consecutive odd whole number is 143







Representation

Let n = the first odd whole number

   n+2 = the second odd whole number



Equation:

n(n+2) = 143

 n^2 + 2n = 143

 n^2 + 2n - 143 = 0



Factor

n^2 + 2n + 1 = 143 + 1

(n + 1)^2 = 144

   n + 1 = +-12

     n = 11    n= -13



n = -13 is not a solution because -13 is not a whole number



therefore the first odd whole number is 11 



The second odd whole number is n + 2 = 11 + 2 = 13