Answer: 6, 8, 10, 12
Step-by-step explanation:
Given that x is the number, the 4 numbers would be
x, x + 2, x + 4, x + 6
so the two smallest numbers would be x and x + 2
and the two largest numbers would be x+4 and x+6
now set up an equation
x(x+2) = (x+4)(x+6) - 72
now FOIL
x^2 + 2x = x^2 + 6x + 4x + 24 - 72
combine like terms
x^2 + 2x = x^2 + 10x -48
subtract x^2 from both sides
2x = 10x - 48
subtract 2x from both sides
0 = 8x - 48
add 48 to both sides
48 = 8x
divide both sides by 8
6 = x
so the four numbers, x, x+2, x+4, and x+6 when you plug in x are equal to
6, 8, 10, 12
