How do you find two consecutive integers whose product is 58?

2 Answers
Jan 13, 2017

No such pair of integers. Hence, no solution.

Explanation:

As the only factors of 58 are {1,2,29,58}, there are no two consecutive integers whose product is 58.

Let us check it algebraically. Assume one integer is x and next is x+1. Hence, we have

x(x+1)=58 or x^2+x=58 or x^2+x-58=0

Using quadratic formula (-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a), we have

x=(-1+-sqrt(1^2-4xx1xx(-58)))/2

= (-1+-sqrt(1+232))/2

= (-1+-sqrt233)/2

and as we do not have a whole number as square root of 233

we do not have any such pair of integers. Hence, no solution.

Jan 13, 2017

There are no such factors. the nearest possible combinations are:

7xx8 = 56" and " 8xx9 =72

Explanation:

The factor exactly in the middle of a list of factors will be the square root.

Any consecutive integers will lie on either side of the square root .

sqrt58 = 7.615...

The two nearest integers are 7 and 8

However, their product is 7 xx 8 = 56

The next combination is 8xx9 =72

There are no consecutive integers with a product of 58.

Further investigation shows that the only factors of 58 are:

1," "2," "29," "58