Two Consecutive Odd Integers

Question

The sum of two consecutive odd integers is -976. What are the integers?

Answer 1

x is first odd integer; next odd integer would be x + 2.

Sum is x + (x + 2) = - 976; 2x + 2 = -976; 2x = -978 ; x = -978/2 = -489

So 2nd no. is x + 2 = - 487

Check: -489 + -487 = -976

Can get same result if did (2x + 1) + (2x + 3) = -976 (2x is always even, so 2x + 1 and 2x + 3 are consecutive odd integers).

Answer 2

consecutive means one right after the other.

Consecutive odd integers are like 5 and 7. Or, like 17 and 19.

The point is, if you call one of them x, the next one is called x + 2.

SUM means add them together.

So, The sum of two consecutive odd integers is -976

can be written algebraically as x + (x + 2) = -976

Combine like terms: 2x + 2 = -976

Subtract 2 from both sides: 2x = -978

Divide by 2: x = -489

So the consecutive odd integers are -489 and -487