What is the difference between the two consecutive integers whose sum is 57?

What is the difference between the two consecutive integers whose sum is 57?

• A. 0
• B. 2
• C. 3
• D. 1

Answer: (D)

Consecutive integers differ by 1. Let the smaller be n and the next be n+1. Their sum is n + (n+1) = 2n + 1. If 2n + 1 = 57, then 2n = 56 and n = 28. The two numbers are 28 and 29, so their difference is 29 − 28 = 1. The difference between the two consecutive integers is 1.

Consecutive integers differ by 1. Let the smaller be n and the next be n+1. Their sum is n + (n+1) = 2n + 1. If 2n + 1 = 57, then 2n = 56 and n = 28. The two numbers are 28 and 29, so their difference is 29 − 28 = 1. The difference between the two consecutive integers is 1.