find two consecutive odd integers whose sum is 28

Question

algebra is very hard and my teacher never helps me but gave me this word problem menu pls help

Answer 1

Sometimes the problem isn't your math.
it's English.
Always check your vocabulary before computing!

Use a dictionary, if your text doesn't have one.

What is "consecutive odd integer"??
Look up each word.
Consecutive means "back to back", "follows each other in order"
Integer means "whole number"
Odd means "not a multiple of 2, can't be divided by 2 (it makes a fraction if you try to divide it by 2)."

So we're looking for 2 whole numbers, both of them odd, which are back to back on the number line . They add up to 28.

1,2,3,4,5,....

Number lines are made of odd numbers followed by even numbers.

so if the first odd number is x, the next odd number is not x+1 because that'd be an even number, we have to go over 1 more to x + 2 to get the next odd number.

 

So it's x + x+2 = 28

Got it? :)

 

Answer 2

Hi Helena, let x represent the first number. Then The second number will be x + 2.

 

Equation:

 

x + (x + 2) = 28

 

2x + 2 = 28

 

2x = 26

 

x = 13

 

The first number is 13 and the second number is: 13 + 2, or 15.

 

Questions?