The product of two consecutive positive integers is 812. What is the value of the lesser integer?

The answer the question, let x be the smaller positive integer. With this, the greater integer may be represented as x + 1. The product of these integers is 812. The product may be written as,

(x) (x + 1) = 812

Solving for x in this problem gives x = 28 or x = - 29. Since we are asked about positive integers only, x = - 29 becomes an extraneous root. Thus, the lesser integer is 28.

lets name the smaller integer as x

the consecutive integer is x + 1 as its the next number

the product of these 2 numbers are 812

you get the product once you multiply the 2 numbers

x * (x + 1) = 812

x² + 1x = 812

x² + x - 812 = 0

this a quadratic equation

we have to first find the factors of 812 * x² with a difference or sum of + x

the 2 factors are + 29x and - 28x which have a product of 812x² and difference of + x

we substitute + x in the quadratic equation with + 29x - 28x

x² + 29x - 28x - 812 = 0

x (x + 29) - 28 (x + 29) = 0

(x + 29) (x-28) = 0

so there are 2 possibilites for x

x + 29 = 0 or x - 28 = 0

x = - 29 x = 28

since we are asked to find positive integers from the 2 possible values of x

x = 28 is the positive number

therefore smaller integer is 28