I still dont understand the consecutive numbers....

[igor_iv837]

The problem is : "Find three consecutive odd integers such that three times the middle integer is one more than the um of the first and third." I cannot understand it...........three consecutive is what?...n+(n+2)+(n+4) ? .....PLease answer if somebody knows.....

 

[Loren]

Re: Please help me with consecutive numbers....

You seem to be adding three consecutive odd or even integers. I don't think the problem talks about adding them together.
I suggest that you start out by naming what you are after. For instance, since the problem talks about the first and third consecutive odd integers, start by naming them...

Let the first integer be n.
Let the second (middle) integer be n+2.
Let the third integer be n+4.

Now, with those expressions, build your equation (or equations) based on the actual words in the problem.

 

[igor_iv837]

Re: Please help me with consecutive numbers....

I dont understand that they call n+2 is a odd integer !!! how is it odd when its 2 and not 1??? 2 is an even number.....

 

[igor_iv837]

Re: Please help me with consecutive numbers....

I dont understand how do to do it anyway.....I'm trying and but i dont get it, ....can u write it in equation form ????

 

[mmm4444bot]

Re: Please help me with consecutive numbers....

I dont understand that they call n+2 is a odd integer !!! how is it odd when its 2 and not 1??? 2 is an even number.....

You are correct when you say that 2 is an even number, but we're NOT TALKING ABOUT 2.

We're talking about a number represented by the expression: n + 2.

(The value of this expression, and, thus, the number it represents, depends SOLELY upon the value of n.)

Loren suggested that you start by letting n = an odd integer.

What happens if you add 2 to an odd number? Try it!

Adding 2 to an odd number ALWAYS results in the next (consecutive) odd number.

THIS IS HOW n + 2 ends up representing an odd number.

Here is an example problem for you to analyze:

"Find three consecutive odd integers such that four times the first integer is 28 more than the sum of the second and third."

In order to help you "see" the equation, start by letting the three consecutive integers be represented by simple expressions, like A, B, and C, respectively.

The words in this problem translate to the following equation:

4A - (B + C) = 28

Do you understand why this equation models the information given in the word problem? Perhaps it would help you to do something similar in YOUR exercise.

Now, using Loren's notation, I write the following expressions for the three consecutive odd integers A, B, and C.

A = n

B = n + 2

C = n + 4

This is necessary to get an equation that contains only ONE variable. (We can't solve the equation if there's more than one variable.) Clearly, the variable we're now using is n.

So, the modeling equation becomes:

4(n) - (n + 2 + n + 4) = 28

Now, it's just a matter of following the order of operations, combining like terms, and solving for n.

n = 17

We would report the answer as, "The three consecutive integers are 17, 19, and 21."

Please show your work if you need further help with your exercise, and try to form specific questions about why you're stuck.

Cheers,

~ Mark