There are three consecutive odd numbers such that the product of the first and last is equal to 437. What is the middle number?

Question

There are three consecutive odd numbers such that the product of the first and last is equal to 437. What is the middle number?

Answer 1

(x-2)(x+2) = 437

x^2 -4-437 = 0

x^2 = 441

x = +/-sqr441

x = +/21 = middle odd integer

19, 21, 23

19x23 = 437

or

-23, -21, -19

-19(-23) = 437

middle odd integer is either 21 or -21