Question

If the sum of two continuous odd numbers is 40, find the numbers.

Answer 1

Hint – Consider the first number which is odd as a variable and use the fact that two consecutive odd numbers differ by 2, that means the consecutive odd number after the first assumed odd number will be that odd number addition 2.
Complete step-by-step answer:
Let the first odd number = y
Hence the consecutive odd number to this first odd number, or the next odd number after y will be y+2.

Now it is given in the question that the sum of two consecutive odd numbers is 40.

Hence
$
  y + y + 2 = 40 \\
   \Rightarrow 2y = 38 \\
   \Rightarrow y = 19 \\
 $

Hence the first odd number is 19 and the next odd number will be y+2 = 19+2 =21, such that the sum is 40.

Note – Whenever we face such problems always try to think that by what value the next number will be differing with respect to the first number assumed. Suppose we would have been given to find even numbers then the first even number is to be assumed 2n where n belongs to natural numbers from 1 to infinity.