Expert: Richard J. Raridon - 2/19/2010

Question
QUESTION: the product of four nos. is 5040.they are consecutive natural nos.Find them.

ANSWER: x(x+1)(x+2)(x+3) = 5040 so x = 7 and the numbers are 7,8,9,10

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QUESTION: But to prove it by solving stepwise?

Answer
If you multiply it out you get x^4+6x^3+11x^2+6x = 5040
or f(x) = x^4+6x^3+11x^2+6x-5040
then you just pick values for x until you find the value to give f(x) = 0.  
Since you know that the number is approximately equal to (5040)^1/4, that gives you a starting point.