## diamondeye10 Group Title the product of two consecutive positive even numbers is 1520. What are the numbers? when I try "n" and "n+2" i get an odd number one year ago one year ago

1. JakeV8 Group Title

you can express those consecutive even numbers like "n" and "n+2" and their product is (n)(n+2) = 1520

2. satellite73 Group Title

guess and check for this one there is no other way

3. satellite73 Group Title

$$40\times 42=1680$$ nope, too big. try again with smaller numbers

4. JakeV8 Group Title

That's not quite the right equation...

5. satellite73 Group Title

@Albert0898 it is the PRODUCT not the sum

6. satellite73 Group Title

you cannot use an equation to solve this, only to rewrite the question, don't be fooled you just have to grind it until you find it

7. bahrom7893 Group Title

38 and 40

8. bahrom7893 Group Title

satellite was close ;)

9. bahrom7893 Group Title

hahah, sorry i used your guess to approximate.

10. satellite73 Group Title

yeah a calculator helps i started too high, went down a couple, got it in try two

11. JakeV8 Group Title

n(n+2) = 1520 n^2 + 2n - 1520 = 0 (n-38)(n+40) = 0 Since the numbers are positive, the 2nd solution doesn't work. n must be 38 and n + 2 is 40.

12. JakeV8 Group Title

(I couldn't factor that as easily as I made it sound... so a calculator helped me too :) )

13. tcarroll010 Group Title

You definitely do not have to grind it out and guess. But the equation is not shown correctly above. It is (2N)(2N + 2) = 1520. Becomes a simple quadratic. Solve for N. Answer will be the 2N and 2N + 2.

14. satellite73 Group Title

so my question is, how did you know how to factor ? you had to come up with two numbers whose product is 1520 and that are two apart in other words just rewrote the question, still had to guess and check

15. Albert0898 Group Title

x = even number x + 2 = consecutive even number x + 2 * x = 1520 x + 2 = 1520/x x = 1518/x x * x = 1518 Find the square root of 1518. Approximate and Closest Even Number: 38. x = 38 x + 2 = 40

16. satellite73 Group Title

i guess if you wanted to be ridiculous you could write $x^2+2x=1520$ and complete the square $(x+1)^2=1521$ $x+1=\sqrt{1521}=39$$x=38$ but that is a silly thing to do

17. JakeV8 Group Title

@satellite73 Yes, I agree with you... that's what I meant... you either guess and check to factor, or just guess and check vs. 1520. My only point was that it is possible to write an equation to solve something like this.

18. satellite73 Group Title

@JakeV8 yes you are right, but i maintain that changing a problem like this in to an equation and then solving it by solving the original problem in words is a dog chasing its tail

19. tcarroll010 Group Title

You guys are missing it all together. Set the variables as 2N and 2N + 2. If you set N to a positive integer, 2N and 2N + 2 are automatically even. Becomes a simple quadratic. See my previous post.

20. diamondeye10 Group Title

thanks all I think I found my problem

21. tcarroll010 Group Title

Ok, I'm here. Give me a second to refresh myself on this.

22. tcarroll010 Group Title

Ok, I'm up to speed. I still stand firmly on my answer methodology. The way to GUARANTEE that you have two even numbers is to use (2N)(2N + 2) = 1520 because 2N and 2N + 2 will be FORCED to be even if N is a positive integer. Absolutely. I strongly suggest you use this methodology. If I understand, your current question has something to do with 3 positive even numbers now? Is that correct?

23. tcarroll010 Group Title

And please, whatever you do, don't follow satellite73 on this problem. He is WAY off base suggesting that you guess. That's beyond ludicrous.

24. diamondeye10 Group Title

@tcarroll010, that is the equation I was using however, i am still unable to find two positive even numbers. No I do not have to find three evennumbers, I was seeing if the way I was working it would give even numbers for three. hope that makes sence, sorry my computer is slow. . I only need two positive even numbers