<PRE><B>Question 19101</B>
First, what are two consecutive even integers. If you let x be the first one, what would the next even integer be? If you said x+2 you would be right. 
So, the smaller of the two is x, the larger is x+2. 
Now you know that 3 times the larger one is equal to the smaller one less 10.
3 times the larger one is written algebraicly like this: 3(x+2).
The smaller one less 10 is written like this: x - 10.
You know 3(x+2) = x-10.
Can you solve this equation for x?
3x+6 = x-10 [distributive rule]
2x+6=-10 [subtract x from both sides]
2x=-16 [subtract 6 from both sides]
x=-8 [divide both sides by 2]
x+2=-6
So three times the greater number (-6) is equal to the smaller number (-8) minus 10.
[Checking: 3(-6)=-18. -8-10=-18.]
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