Find the consecutive even integers whose squares have the sum 340.
Let the consecutive even integers be ‘a’ and a + 2
⇒ a2 + (a + 2)2 = 340
⇒ 2a2 + 4a – 336 = 0
⇒ a2 + 2a – 168 = 0
⇒ a2 + 14a – 12a – 168 = 0
⇒ a(a + 14) – 12(a + 14) = 0
⇒ (a – 12)(a + 14) = 0
Thus, a = 12 or – 14
Consecutive even integers are 12, 14 or -14, - 12