Which of the following cannot be expressed as the sum of two consecutive positive integers?
a) 17 b) 22 c) 24 d) 26 e) 32
please help!
2006-11-17 17:17:20 · 14 answers · asked by dudes222 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
b, c, d and e
only 17 can be....(8+9)
2006-11-17 17:20:04 · answer #1 · answered by yezdi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only one which CAN be expressed as the sum of two consecutive positive integers is A. 17= 8+9. All of the others cannot possibly be expressed that way.
A, C and E cannot be expressed as the sum of two positive even integers where B and D can. 22=10+12. 26=12+14.
2006-11-17 17:23:02 · answer #2 · answered by answers999 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let us put it this way:
Any two consecutive positive integers is always a pair of an odd and an even integer.
Since the sum of an odd and an even integer is always an odd integer,
then even integers cannot be expressed as the sum of 2 consecutive positive integers.
Therefore,
22, 24, 26 and 32 cannot be expressed as the sum of two consecutive positive integers, since they are even.
^_^
2006-11-17 21:51:54 · answer #3 · answered by kevin! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only 17 that can be expressed as the sum of two consecutive positive integers. the other cannot. because 17 is an odd number (so it can be expressed as the sum of two consecutive positive number) while the others are even numbers.
so the answer b,c,d,e
2006-11-17 17:31:41 · answer #4 · answered by fii 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess only 17 is the number that CAN be expressed as sum of two consecutive positive integers (i.e. 8&9).
Rest all CANNOT be expressed as sum of two consecutive positive integers
2006-11-17 17:23:11 · answer #5 · answered by talha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use the brute force method
8+9=17
10+11=21
11+12=23
12+13 = 25
13+14=27
14+15=29
15+16=31
16+17=33
So b,c,d and e can not be expressed as the sum of two consecutive posative integers.
2006-11-17 18:11:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sum of any two consecutive integers would be an even and an odd number, which always results in an odd number, therefore the sum CANNOT be an even number, so b, c, d, and e cannot be the sum of two consecutive positive integers.
2006-11-17 17:27:06 · answer #7 · answered by jharr412 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sum of 2 consecutive numbers is odd.
n, n+1 sum = 2n+ 1
so 17 can be and no others that is b through e
2006-11-17 17:22:34 · answer #8 · answered by Mein Hoon Na 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
10+12=22
12+14=26
2006-11-17 17:20:28 · answer #9 · answered by Jack1234 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is a
17 Cannot be expressedas the sum of two consecutive positive integers.
- - - - - - - - -s-
2006-11-17 20:37:20 · answer #10 · answered by SAMUEL D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a) 17
2006-11-17 21:13:51 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋