Question 145478
just need help with this word problem. how do we write out an equation from consecutive odd and even word problems? can you give an example?
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"Three consecutive even integers are such that the square of the third is 76
 more than the square of the second"
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Break it down as follows:
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Three consecutive even integers:
x, (x+2), (x+4)
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are such that the square of the third is 76 more than the square of the second.
(x+4)^2 = (x+2)^2 + 76
FOIL
x^2 + 8x + 16 = x^2 + 4x + 4 + 76
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Arrange the x's on the left and the numbers on the right:
x^2 - x^2 + 8x - 4x = 4 + 76 - 16
:
4x = 64
x = {{{64/4}}}
x = 16 is the 1st even integers
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 Find the three integers.
 16, 18, 20
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Check solution in the statement:
"square of the third is 76 more than the square of the second."
20^2 = 18^2 + 76
400 = 324 + 76; confirms our solution
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