The sum of two consecutive odd integers is -16. What are the two integers?

1 Answer
Jan 8, 2017

The two integers are #-9# and #-7#

Explanation:

We will let the first integer be #x#. The because these are consecutive ODD integers we need to add two to the first integer or #x + 2#.

We can now write and solve for #x#:

#x + (x + 2) = -16#

#x + x + 2 = -16#

#2x + 2 = -16#

#2x + 2 - color(red)(2) = -16 - color(red)(2)#

#2x + 0 = -18#

#2x = -18#

#(2x)/color(red)(2) = -18/color(red)(2)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))x)/cancel(color(red)(2)) = -9#

#x = -9#

So the first integer is #-9# and we know the second integer is #x + 2# or #-9 + 2 = -7#