# How do you find two consecutive odd numbers whose sum is 276?

May 27, 2018

The two consecutive odd numbers are $137$ and $139$.

#### Explanation:

Consecutive means following continuously, or in an unbroken sequence.

An example of two consecutive odd numbers would be $1$ and $3$ or like $77$ and $79$.

First, divide $276$ by $2$:
$\frac{276}{2} = 138$

That means $138 + 138 = 276$.

To make them two consecutive odd numbers, we can subtract $1$ from one of the $138$s and add $1$ to one of the $138$s:
$138 - 1 = 137$

$138 + 1 = 139$

When we add them up together, we still get $276$.

Therefore, the two consecutive odd numbers are $137$ and $139$.

Hope this helps!

May 27, 2018

$137 \mathmr{and} 139$

#### Explanation:

Let the two consecutive odd numbers be: $\left(2 n - 1\right) \mathmr{and} \left(2 n + 1\right) : n \in \mathbb{Z}$

We are told that their sum is $276$

Hence, $\left(2 n - 1\right) + \left(2 n + 1\right) = 276$

$4 n = 276 \to n = 69$

So, our first number is: $2 \times 69 - 1 = 137$

and the second number is: $139$