Question

The sum of two consecutive even numbers is 38. What is the smaller number?

Answer 1

18 is the smaller number

Explanation:

Let us take X for the first even number (it will also be the smallest)

x, x+1, x+2, so on..

the consecutive even number of x+2 is the next even number after x.

so you now get this equation...

x+(x+2) = 38

2x + 2 = 38

2x = 36

x=18

Answer 2

Even numbers = 2x +2

Consecutive even numbers = 2x+4

then

(2x+2) + (2x+4)= 38

2x + 2 + 2x + 4 = 38

2x + 2x + 2 + 4 = 38

4x + 6 = 38

4x = 38 - 6

x = 32 :4

x = 8

2x+ 2 = 2(8)+2 = 16 + 2 = 18

2x+4 = 2(8) +4 = 16 + 4 = 20

The smallest number is 18

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