What is the greater of two consecutive positive odd integers whose product is 143?

Answer 1

Let x = the first odd integer

Then x+2 is the next (consecutive) odd integer

The product of the two odd integers is 143:

So x(x+2) = 143

x^2 + 2x = 143

x^2 + 2x - 143 = 0

Factoring

(x+13)(x-11) = 0

x = -13 or 11. Since we are talking about positive odd integers, x has to be 11

And the next positive odd integer x+2 = 13.