Final answer:
The problem involves solving a quadratic equation (x^2 - 3x = 40). By factoring the equation, we find that x equals 8 or -5. Since we're looking for a positive integer, the answer is x = 8.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question entails solving a quadratic equation derived from the mathematical statement that the square of a positive integer subtracted by three times the integer equals 40. Let's denote the integer as x. According to the problem, we have the equation x2 - 3x = 40. This is a simple quadratic equation that can be solved in several ways, such as factoring, completing the square, or using the quadratic formula.
To solve the equation, one might start by moving all terms to one side to set the equation to zero:
Next, we find factors of -40 that add up to -3, which are -8 and 5. This allows us to factor the quadratic as follows:
Now, set each factor equal to zero and solve for x:
- x - 8 = 0 or x + 5 = 0
- x = 8 or x = -5
Since the question asks for a positive integer, the answer is x = 8.