the product of two consecutive positive integers is 342 what is the bigger integer in the two consecutive integers

Question

Need lots of help please

Answer 1

Arturo O. and Mike F. have the correct procedures and solutions. However, I question what level of math you are in. If you are not in Algebra l or higher, the problem simply amounts to factoring 342 as a product of prime factors.

342=2*171

171=3*57

57=3*19

342=2*3*3*19=(2*3*3)*(19)=18*19

 

Answer 2

The 2 consecutive integers are

 

n

n + 1

 

Given:

 

n(n + 1) = 342

 

Solve for n.

 

n² + n - 342 = 0

 

(n - 18)(n + 19) = 0

 

n = 18 or -19

 

But n and n + 1 must be positve, so

 

n = 18

n + 1 = 19

 

Test the answers.

Answer 3

First assume that the first integer is x

The second integer would be x+1 

The equation would look like this:

(x)(x+1)=342

= x²+x=342

= x²+x-342=0 <-- quadratic equation

Now use the quadratic formula:

-b +- (sqrt(b²-4ac))/2a

plug in your values for a,b and c and the formula will give you one positive and one negative number.

What that means is you can have both numbers be positive and their product will be 342 or you can have both numbers be negative and their product will be 342.