The product of two consecutive odd integers is 255. If x is the smallest of the integers, write an equation in terms of x that describes the situation, and then find all such pairs of integers. The equation that describes the situation is

The positive set of integers is

The negative set of integers is

a4 - 3a2 - 1

step-by-step explanation:

step   1   :

equation at the end of step   1   :

  ((a4) -   3a2) -   1

step   2   :

trying to factor by splitting the middle term

2.1     factoring   a4-3a2-1  

the first term is,   a4   its coefficient is   1 .

the middle term is,   -3a2   its coefficient is   -3 .

the last term, "the constant", is   -1