What is the difference between the two consecutive integers whose sum is 55?

What is the difference between the two consecutive integers whose sum is 55?

• A. 0
• B. 1
• C. 2
• D. 10

Answer: (B)

Consecutive integers differ by exactly 1, since each next number is one more than the previous. If the smaller is n, the larger is n+1, and their sum is n + (n+1) = 2n + 1. Setting this equal to 55 gives 2n + 1 = 55, so 2n = 54 and n = 27. The two numbers are 27 and 28, and their difference is 28 − 27 = 1. Therefore, the difference between the two consecutive integers is 1.

Consecutive integers differ by exactly 1, since each next number is one more than the previous. If the smaller is n, the larger is n+1, and their sum is n + (n+1) = 2n + 1. Setting this equal to 55 gives 2n + 1 = 55, so 2n = 54 and n = 27. The two numbers are 27 and 28, and their difference is 28 − 27 = 1. Therefore, the difference between the two consecutive integers is 1.