Question

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

Answer 1

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`