Let's write an equation describing the problem.
Any even whole number may be represented by writing [tex]2n[/tex] in which [tex]n[/tex] is any non-negative integer.
It follows that for a even whole number [tex]2n[/tex] the next (consecutive) even whole number can be written as [tex]2(n+1)[/tex].
We now need to solve the following equation:
[tex]2n*2(n+1)=288[/tex]
If we solve for [tex]n[/tex] we get:
[tex]n=-9 ,8[/tex]
We have to values, as the equation is quadratic. We take the positive one as the correct one. So [tex]n=8[/tex], and if we plug in this value to [tex]2n[/tex] and [tex]2(n+1)[/tex] we know that the asnwer is 16 and 18.
