Basic Algebra Series

Basic Algebra Word

Problems
Creating algebraic formulas from word problems involving
consecutive integers
Read and Understand
• Read the problem carefully and create variables for each term
described
• When the problem states that the integers are consecutive
(one directly after the other), you would use a routine such as:
x, x+1, x+2, x+3, etc. These are consecutive.
• If a problem states only odd or only even, these numbers
always have a “skipped” number between; therefore, use:
x, x+2, x+4, x+6, etc.
Two consecutive integers have a sum of 91.
What are the two integers?
• How many integers and how are they spaced?
• 2 consecutive
• What will we do with the two terms?
• Sum them….add them together
• What will they equal?
• 91
• Create the variables using algebraic terms
• (x) and (x+1)
• Substitute them into the statement
• (x) + (x+1) = 91
Do the math
(x) + (x+1) = 91
• Remove the parenthesis, they are not needed in simple
addition
• x + x + 1 = 91
• How many x’s?
• 2x +1 = 91
• If we do the same thing to both sides of an equation, the
equation remains equal!!!!!
• 2x + 1 – 1 = 91 – 1
• 2x = 90
• 2x/2 = 90/2
• x = 45
Substitute the value of x into the formula

• 45 + (45+1) = 91
• 45 + 46 = 91
• Yes they do!!!
• The answer is 45 and 46, those two numbers are consecutive
and equal 91 when added together.

• The formula will always remain the same for a same scenario
problem.
• Let’s try a few more!
The sum of two consecutive integers is 27,
what are the two integers?
• (x)+(x+1)=27
• 2x +1 = 27
• 2x +1 -1 = 27 -1
• 2x = 26
• 2x/2 = 26/2
• x= 13
• x=13, x+1 = 14, ans: 13 & 14
• 13 + 14 = 27, tests true
The sum of two consecutive integers is 9. What are
the two integers?

• 2x+1 = 9
• 2x = 8
• x=4
• x+1 = 5
• 4 + 5 = 9, true

• What if both numbers need to be even?

• Even or odd means every other number
• x, x+2, x+4, etc.
• Let’s try a few!
Two consecutive even integers have a sum of 26.
What are the two integers?

• (x) + (x+2) = 26
• x + x + 2 = 26
• 2x + 2 = 26
• 2x + 2 – 2 = 26 – 2
• 2x = 24
• 2x/2 = 24/2
• x = 12
• Replace value of x into formula
• (12)+ (12 + 2) = 26
• 12 + 14 = 26…true!
• Ans: 12 and 14
What two consecutive even numbers have a
sum of 90?
• x + x + 2 = 90
• 2x + 2 = 90
• 2x = 88
• x = 44, x+2 = 46….ans: 44, 46
• 44 + 46 = 90 and they are both even.

• What if the integers need to be odd?

• The formula is the same.
• Let’s try a few examples
Two consecutive odd integers have a sum of 48. What
are the two odd integers?

• (x) + (x+2) = 48
• 2x + 2 = 48
• 2x = 46
• x = 23, x + 2 = 25
• 23 + 25 = 48
• Ans: 23, 25
• They are both odd and they equal 48.
What two consecutive odd integers have a
sum of 88?
• x + x + 2 = 88
• 2x + 2 = 88
• 2x = 86
• x = 43, x + 2 = 45
• 43 + 45 = 88
• Ans: 43, 45
• They equal 88 and are both odd.

• What about 3 or more consecutive numbers?

What three consecutive integers have a sum
of 21?
• (x) + (x+1) + (x+2) = 21
• x + x +1 + x + 2 = 21
• Add up the x’s and the numbers
• 3x + 3 = 21
• 3x +3 – 3 = 21 – 3
• 3x = 18
• 3x/3 = 18/3
• x = 6, 6+1 = 7, 6+2= 8
• 6 + 7 + 8 = 21
• Ans: 6, 7, 8
• Let’s try one more of those.
What three consecutive integers have a sum
of 33?
• x + x+1 + x+2 = 33
• 3x + 3 = 33
• 3x = 30
• x = 10
• Ans: 10, 11, 12
• 10 + 11 + 12 = 33
Consecutive negative integers
• The first term is always x regardless of negative or positive
term.
• To increase the negativity of a number, you subtract.
• What is more negative than -5? Ans: -6
• What is more negative than x? Ans: x – 1

• How to count from -5 to 5

• -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5
• Notice that zero is neither negative or positive

• Let’s try a few of these!

Two negative consecutive integers have a sum
of -21. What are the integers?
• (x) + (x-1) = -21
• x + x - 1 = -21
• 2x – 1 = -21
• 2x = -20
• 2x/2 = -20/2
• x = -10
• -10 -1 = -11
• (-10) + (-11) = -21
• -10 – 11 = -21
• The statement is true and both numbers are negative.
What two consecutive negative integers
have a sum of -47?
• x + (x-1) = -47
• 2x – 1 = -47
• 2x = -46
• X = -23
• x-1 = -24
• Ans: -23, -24
• (-23) + (-24) = -47

Let’s do 3 consecutive even and 3 consecutive odd

What 3 consecutive even integers
have a sum of 36?
• (x) + (x+2) + (x+4) = 36
• 3x + 6 = 36
• 3x = 30
• x = 10
• (x+2) = 12, (x+4) = 14
• 10 + 12 + 14 = 36
• Ans: 10, 12, 14
What three consecutive odd
integers have a sum of 57?
• (x) + (x+2) + (x+4) = 57
• 3x + 6 = 57
• 3x = 51
• x/3 = 51/3
• x = 17
• (x +2 )= 19, (x + 4)= 21
• 17 + 19 + 21 = 57
• Ans: 17, 19, 21

• How about 3 consecutive negative numbers?

What 3 consecutive negative integers
have a sum of -36?
• (x) + (x-1) + (x-2) = -36
• 3x - 3 = -36
• 3x - 3 + 3 = -36 + 3
• 3x = -33
• x = -11
• (x-1)= -12, (x-2) = -13
• (-11) + (-12) + (-13) = -36
• Ans: -11, -12, -13

• One more before we quit. Think about this one!

What 3 consecutive even integers have a
sum of -36?
• (x) + (x-2) + (x-4) = -36
• 3x - 6 = -36
• 3x - 6 + 6 = -36 + 6
• 3x = -30
• x = -10
• (x-2) = -12, (x-4) = -14
• (-10) + (-12) + (-14) = -36
• Ans: -10, -12, -14

I hope you enjoyed this exercise of summing consecutive

numbers. Algebra is a math that can be used in everyday life.
The more you use it, the easier it gets.