Consecutive positive integers will be three numbers right in a row on the number line.
x= 1st integer
x+1= 2nd integer
x+2= 3rd integer
product= multiply
less than= subtraction
is= equal sign
FIRST INTEGER
(x)(x + 1)= (5)(x + 2) - 5
multiply both sets of parentheses 1st
(x*x) + (x*1)= (5*x) + (5*2) - 5
multiply within parentheses
x^2 + x= 5x + 10 - 5
combine like terms
x^2 + x= 5x + 5
subtract 5x from both sides
x^2 - 4x= 5
subtract 5 from both sides
x^2 - 4x - 5= 0
factor
(x + 1)(x - 5)= 0
set each parentheses equal to 0
x + 1= 0
x= -1
x - 5= 0
x= 5 first integer
***since the integers are positive, x has to be equal to 5, not -1
SECOND INTEGER
= x + 1
= 5 + 1
= 6 second integer
THIRD INTEGER
= x + 2
= 5 + 2
= 7 third integer
ANSWER: The smallest of three consecutive positive integers is 5.
Hope this helps! :)
