Find out the greater of two consecutive positive odd integers whose product is 143.
Let x = the lesser odd integer and let x + 2 = the greater odd integer. Because product is a key word for multiplication, the equation is x(x + 2) = 143. Multiply using the distributive property on the left side of the equation: x2 + 2x = 143. Put the equation in standard form and set it equal to zero: x2 + 2x - 143 = 0. Factor the trinomial: (x - 11)(x + 13) =0. Set every factor equal to zero and solve: x - 11 = 0 or x + 13 = 0; x = 11 or x = -13. Since you are seems for a positive integer, reject the x- value of -13. Thus, x = 11 and x + 2 = 13. The greater positive odd integer is 13.