Question

Find two consecutive positive integers whose sum is 63.

Answer 1

Hint: This is a simple question of linear equations in one variable. Just assume one number to be a variable. The other number will be one value greater than the first one, since they are consecutive. Then we can form the equation.

Complete step-by-step answer:

Let the smaller number be x. Since the numbers are consecutive, the larger number will be one greater. So the larger number is x + 1. The sum of the numbers is 63 so-

smaller number + larger number = 63
x + (x + 1) = 63
2x +1 = 63
2x = 62
x = 31
x +1 = 32

So, the numbers are 31 and 32. This is the required answer.

Note: In this question, we can also assume the larger number to be x. So, the smaller number will be x - 1. The equation formed will be-
(x - 1) + x = 63
2x - 1 = 63
2x = 64
x = 32
x - 1 = 31
The answer remains the same.