Find four consecutive integers whose sum is -26 with steps !

Well, when i get a question like this I use trial and error.
for example lets start with -5, -6, -7, and -8= -26

which in this case does equal the target number but lets say it didn't.  If you got a number that was to high you start with a lower number and if you got a number that was to low you start with a higher number.

hope this helps!

You can do it without trial and error by setting the first integer to x. Since the other integers are consecutive, the next number would be x +1, next would be x + 2, and then finally x +3

Add them together and set them to equal to -26, then solve for x.

x + (x+1) + (x+2) + (x+3)= -26
4x + 6 = -26
4x = -32
x = -8

the first number is -8, so x+1 is -7, x+2 is -6 and x + 3 is -5.

So your consecutive integers are -8,-7,-6, and -5, which when added together gives you -26.

First one is 1 second one is 3