Question 974618
x = first consecutive positive integer
x + 1 = second consecutive positive integer


x² + (x + 1)² = 61 {sum of squares of two consecutive positive integers is 61}
x² + (x + 1)(x + 1) = 61 {when squaring a binomial, multiply it by itself}
x² + x² + 2x + 1 = 61 {used the foil method}
2x² + 2x + 1 = 61 {combined like terms}
2x² + 2x - 60 = 0 {subtracted 61 from each side}
2(x² + x - 30) = 0 {factored a 2 out}
x² + x - 30 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0, 2 cannot be equal to 0}
(x + 6)(x - 5) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
x + 6 = 0 or x - 5 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}
x = -6 or x = 5 {solved each equation for x}
x + 1 = -5 or x + 1 = 6 {substituted -6 and 5, in for x, into x + 1}


5 and 6 
are the two consecutive positive integers 
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