the product of two consecutive intergers is 72. the equation x(x+1)=72 represents the situation, where x represents the smaller interger. which equation can be factored and solved for the smaller interger?

The numbers are 8 and 9.

Step-by-step explanation:

x(x+1) = 72       Distribute

x^2 + x = 72    Plug in values for x until one of them works

8^2 + 8 = 72    In this case, 8 is the number that works

64 + 8 = 72     Add

72 = 72

Now plug this into the original equation

8(8+1) = 72       Add

8(9) = 72          Multiply

72 = 72

using pemdas, (order of operations) you'll see the answer is 24.