Question 76041
<pre>
What are two consecutive integers whose product is 72?

    What is asked in the problem? and Given:
       two consecutive numbers whose sum is 72


Representation:
   Let n = the first number
      n + 1 = the second consecutive number

The product of the numbers is 72
   n (n+1) = 72     
   n^2 + n = 72
  n^2 + n - 72 = 0          factor 
  (n + 9)(n-8) = 0
n + 9 = 0     n - 8 = 0
 n = -9         n = 8

n+1 = -8        n = 9

There are two solutions:
1. the first integer is -9 and the next one is -8.
2. the first integer is 8 and the next one is 9.
    
 

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