| Step 1. Read the problem. |
|
| Step 2. Identify what we are looking for. |
We are looking for two consecutive integers. |
| Step 3. Name what we are looking for. |
Let n=the first integer. |
|
n+2=next consecutive odd integer |
| Step 4. Translate into an equation. Restate the problem in a sentence. |
The product of the two consecutive odd integers is 323. |
|
n(n+2)=323 |
| Step 5. Solve the equation. |
n2+2n=323 |
| Bring all the terms to one side. |
n2+2n−323=0 |
| Factor the trinomial. |
(n−17)(n+19)=0 |
| Use the Zero Product Property. Solve the equations. |
n−17n==017n+19n==0−19 |
| There are two values for n that are solutions to this problem. So there are two sets of consecutive odd integers that will work. |
|
| If the first integer is n=17 |
If the first integer is n=−19 |
| then the next odd integer is |
then the next odd integer is |
| n+2 |
n+2 |
| 17+2 |
−19+2 |
| 19 |
−17 |
| 17,19 |
−17,−19 |
| Step 6. Check the answer. |
|
| The results are consecutive odd integers |
|
| 17,19and−19,−17. |
|
| 17⋅19=323✓−19(−17)=323✓ |
|
| Both pairs of consecutive integers are solutions. |
|
| Step 7. Answer the question |
The consecutive integers are 17, 19 and −19,−17. |