Question

The sum of two consecutive odd integers is -72. What is the larger integer?

Answer 1

Let the first odd integer be x. Since they are consecutive, the next odd integer, which is also the larger integer must be (x+2).

The sum of these two is said to be a total of -72.
Therefore,

x + (x+2) = -72

2x = -72 - 2

2x = -74

x = -37

The two consecutive odd integers are -37 and -35, with -35 being the larger integer.