Question

The product of two consecutive positive integers is 194 more than the next integer. What is the largest of the three integers?​

Answer 1

16

Explanation:

let x be a positive integer

mathematically, the statement: “The product of two consecutive positive integers is 194 more than the next integer” means x(x + 1) - 194 = x + 2

………………………………

Solving the equation x(x + 1) - 194 = x + 2 for x :

x(x + 1) - 194 = x + 2

⇔ x² + x - 194 = x + 2

⇔ x² - 194 = 2

⇔ x² = 196

⇔ x = 14 or x = -14

Since -14 < 0 then the solution to our equation is x = 14

Therefore

The largest integer of the three is x + 2 = 14 + 2 = 16

Verification:

14 × 15 − 194 = 210 − 194 = 16