Problema Solution

The product of two consecutive positive odd integers is 143. Find the integers.

Answer provided by our tutors

Every odd number can be written in a 2k+1 form where k is integer.


Thus for the two consecutive positive odd integers we can write: 2k+1 and 2k+3


the product of this two numbers is 143 that is


(2k + 1)(2k + 3) = 143


4k^2 + 5k - 140 = 0


by solving this quadratic equation we find


k1 = 5


k2 = -7 it is not a solution since we need k >0.


For k = 5 the consecutive positive odd integers are:


2*5 + 1 = 11


2*5 + 3 = 13


and indeed 11*13 = 143


The numbers that we are looking for are 11 and 13.