The sum of two consecutive odd integers is -16. What are the two integers?

1 Answer
Jan 8, 2017

The two integers are -99 and -77

Explanation:

We will let the first integer be xx. The because these are consecutive ODD integers we need to add two to the first integer or x + 2x+2.

We can now write and solve for xx:

x + (x + 2) = -16x+(x+2)=16

x + x + 2 = -16x+x+2=16

2x + 2 = -162x+2=16

2x + 2 - color(red)(2) = -16 - color(red)(2)2x+22=162

2x + 0 = -182x+0=18

2x = -182x=18

(2x)/color(red)(2) = -18/color(red)(2)2x2=182

(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))x)/cancel(color(red)(2)) = -9

x = -9

So the first integer is -9 and we know the second integer is x + 2 or -9 + 2 = -7