GeminiHeat wrote:
If q, r, and s are consecutive even integers and q < r < s, which of the following CANNOT be the value of \(s^2 – r^2 – q^2\)?
(A) -20
(B) 0
(C) 8
(D) 12
(E) 16
Let the consecutive even integers in increasing order be (x-2), x and (x+2)
S0, \(s^2 – r^2 – q^2 = (x+2)^2 - x^2 - (x-2)^2\)
\(= x^2 + 4 + 4x - x^2 - x^2 - 4 + 4x\)
\(= 8x - x^2\)
\(= x(8-x)\)
When \(x = -2\), \(s^2 – r^2 – q^2 = -20\)
When \(x = 0\), \(s^2 – r^2 – q^2 = 0\)
When \(x = 2\), \(s^2 – r^2 – q^2 = 12\)
When \(x = 4\), \(s^2 – r^2 – q^2 = 16\)
Hence, option C