Question 126331

two consecutive numbers have a sum of 71.what are the numbers?i know how to solve it but i was just wondering why when you add 1 to both sides it isn't a 1x isn't it because its not a like term?
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Consecutive numbers are "x" and "x+1".
EQUATION:
x + x+1 = 71
2x+1 = 71
2x = 70
x = 35
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Hmmmm?
If you have "x" and you add 1 to both sides you get x+1 not 1x
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1x means "one x".  It's saying "car"; you mean one car.
Similarly "x" means one x. The "1" is not needed.
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Cheers,
Stan H.