An integer (pronounced IN-tuh-jer) is a
whole number (not a fractional number)
that can be positive, negative, or zero.
Examples of integers are: -5, 1, 5, 8, 97,
and 3,043.
Examples of numbers that are not integers
are: -1.43, 1 3/4, 3.14, .09, and 5,643.1.
The set of integers, denoted Z, is formally
defined as follows:
Z = {..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...}
In mathematical equations, unknown or
unspecified integers are represented by
lowercase, italicized letters from the "late
middle" of the alphabet. The most
common are p, q, r, and s.
The set Z is a denumerable set.
Denumerability refers to the fact that,
even though there might be an infinite
number of elements in a set, those
elements can be denoted by a list that
implies the identity of every element in the
set. For example, it is intuitive from the list
{..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...} that 356,804,251
and -67,332 are integers, but
356,804,251.5, -67,332.89, -4/3, and
0.232323 ... are not.
The elements of Z can be paired off one-to-
one with the elements of N, the set of
natural numbers, with no elements being
left out of either set. Let N = {1, 2, 3, ...}.
Then the pairing can proceed in this way:
In infinite sets, the existence of a one-to-
one correspondence is the litmus test for
determining cardinality, or size. The set of
natural numbers and the set of rational
numbers have the same cardinality as Z.
However, the sets of real numbers,
imaginary numbers, and complex numbers
have cardinality larger than that of Z.
SOLVING PROBLEMS INVOLVING SYSTEM
OF EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES
One of the most common applications of
equations are number problems. This
hub presents five number problems
involving system of equations in two
variables.
1. The sum of two numbers is 70.
The smaller number increased
by twenty equals the bigger
number. What are these two
numbers ?
Sol. Let x = smaller number
Let y = biggest number
Equation 1: x+y = 70
Equation 2: x+20 = y
Substitute equation 2 in equation one
: X + X + 20 = 70
2X + 20 = 70
2X = 70 20
2X = 50
(1/2) 2X = 50 (1/2)
X = 25
Y = 25 + 20 = 45
The two numbers are 25 and 45.
 2. Find three consecutive 4. The sum of the first and third
integers whose sum is equal to of three consecutive odd
366. integers is 131 less than three
times the second integer. Find
Sol. the three integers.

Let the three numbers be x, x + 1

and x + 2. their sum is equal to 366,
Sol.
hence
Let x, x + 2 and x + 4 be three
x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) = 366 integers. The sum of the first x
and third x + 4 is given by
Solve for x and find the three
numbers x + (x + 4)

x = 121 , x + 1 = 122 and x + 2 =

131 less than three times the
123
second 3(x + 2) is given by
3. The sum of three consecutive
even integers is equal to 84. 3(x + 2) - 131
Find the numbers.
"The sum of the first and third
Sol. is 131 less than three times the
second" gives
The difference between two even
integers is equal to 2. let x, x + 2 and
x + (x + 4) = 3(x + 2) - 131
x + 4 be the three numbers. Their
sum is equal to 84, hence
Solve for x and find all three
numbers
x + (x + 2) + (x + 4) = 84

Solve for x and find the three x = 129 , x + 2 = 131 , x + 4 =

numbers 133

As an exercise, check that the

x = 26 , x + 2 = 28 and x + 4 = sum of the first and third is 131
30 less than three times
The three numbers are even.
Check that their sum is equal
to 84.
 Problem 5: The product of two
consecutive odd integers is
equal to 675. Find the two
integers.
Let x, x + 2 be the two integers.
Their product is equak to 144
x (x + 2) = 675
Expand to obtain a quadratic
equation.
x 2 + 2 x - 675 = 0
Solve for x to obtain two
solutions
x = 25 or x = -27
if x = 25 then x + 2 = 27
if x = -27 then x + 2 = -25
We have two solutions. The
two numbers are either
25 and 27
or
-27 and -25
Check that in both cases the
product is equal to 675.
Problem 6: Find four
consecutive even integers so
that the sum of the first two
added to twice the sum of the
last two is equal to 742.
Solution to Problem 7:
Let x, x + 2, x + 4 and x + 6 be
the four integers. The sum of
the first two
x + (x + 2)
twice the sum of the last two is
written as
2 ((x + 4) + (x + 6)) = 4 x + 20
sum of the first two added to
twice the sum of the last two is
equal to 742 is written as
x + (x + 2) + 4 x + 20 = 742
Solve for x and find all four
numbers
x = 120 , x + 2 = 122 , x + 4 =
124 , x + 6 = 126
As an exrcise, check that the
sum of the first two added to
twice the sum of the last two is
equal to 742