Question

Three consecutive odd numbers are such that if you subtract the product of the first two from the product of the greater two, the result will be 76 . Find these numbers.

Answer 1

Let's represent the three consecutive odd numbers as x, x+2, and x+4.
The equation can be formed as (x+2)(x+4) - x(x+2) = 76.
Simplifying the equation, we get x^2 + 6x + 8 - x^2 - 2x = 76.
Combining like terms, we have 4x + 8 = 76.
Solving for x, we find x = 17.
So the three consecutive odd numbers are 17, 19, and 21.