Question

The sum of four consecutive integers is -42. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

Start by using variables to define the numbers.
Let the smallest integer be `x`.

The other integers are therefore `(x+1), (x+2) and (x + 3)`

Their sum is -42

`x +x+1 + x+2 + x+3 = -42 " simplify and solve"`

`4x + 6 = -42`
`4x = -42 - 6`
`4x = -48`
`x = -12 " this is the smallest integer"`

The integers are -12 -11 -10 and -9.