How do you determine three consecutive negative integers such that the square of third, added to the first, is 130?
1 Answer
Jun 16, 2016
The integers are
Explanation:
Let the consecutive integers be x, (x+1) and (x +2)
(Where x < 0)
The solutions have to be integers, so we will factorise rather than using completing the square or the formula.
Exploring factors of 126 gives:
Find factors which differ by 5.
[The Factors are
Solving gives:
We reject 9 because
So, if
The integers are
Check: