The product of four consecutive positive integers is 1 less than 461². What is the least of these four numbers?
Let the numbers be n-1 n n+1 and n+2
The numbers are ALMOST
n^4 = 461^2 - 1 = 212520 <======take 4th root of both sides
n ~~ 21
so try 20 21 22 23 = 212520 Bingo ! On first try .......
I think to do n(n+1)(n+2)(n+3)=461^2 -1, then do
(n^2 +n)(n+2)(n+3)=212520
(n^3+3n^2+2n)(n+3)=212520
n^4+3n^3+3n^3+9n^2+2n^2+6n=212520
n^4 + 6n^3 + 11n^2 + 6n = 212520
What now? Or is there another way to do this?
Pls help
Let the numbers be n-1 n n+1 and n+2
The numbers are ALMOST
n^4 = 461^2 - 1 = 212520 <======take 4th root of both sides
n ~~ 21
so try 20 21 22 23 = 212520 Bingo ! On first try .......