Answer:
[tex]x-8[/tex], smaller integer is 8.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given:
The product of two consecutive integers is 72.
The equation x(x+1)=72 represents the situation, where x represents the smaller integer.
Question asked:
Which equation can be factored and solved for the smaller integer ?
Solution:
[tex]x(x+1)=72\\\\ x^{2} +x=72\\ \\ By\ subtracting\ both\ sides\ by\ 72\\ \\ x^{2} +x-72=72-72\\ \\ x^{2} +x-72=0\\ \\ x^{2} +9x-8x-72=0\\ \\ Taking\ x+9\ as\ common \\ \\ x(x+9)-8(x+9)=0\\ \\ x+9=0,x-8=0\\ \\ x=-9,x=8[/tex]
[tex]x-8[/tex] can be factored and solved for the smaller integer, and that is 8.
Two consecutive integers are 8 and 9 and their product is 8 [tex]\times[/tex] 9 = 72
