Question

The square of a certain negative number is equal to five more than one-half of that number. What is the number?

-1/2
-5/2
-2

Answer 1

(-2)^2= 1/2(-2)+5
4= -1+5
4=4
Answer -2

Answer 2

The answer is -2
using algebra we can write this out as x^2=1/2(x)+5
-1/2^2=1/2(-1/2)+5
1/4= -1/4+5
1/4=19/4 (this is not true so it cant be -1/2)

-5/2^2=1/2(-5/2)+5
25/4= -5/4+5
25/4=15/4 (this is not true so it cant be -5/2)

-2^2=1/2(-2)+5
4= -1+5
4=4 (this IS true therefore it is the answer)