Question

If the product of two numbers is 14 and one of the numbers is 3 ½ times the other, then what is the sum of the two numbers?

Answer 1

x=number1 and y=number2
product of the two numbers is 14 which translates to
xy=14
either x or y are 3.5 times big as the other one
so 3.5x=y
substituting in xy=14
x(3.5x)=14

`3.5 {x}^(2) = 14`

`{x}^(2) = (14)/(3.5) = 4`
then x must be equal to 2 or -2
x+y=
by substituting
x+3.5x=
if x =2 then 2+7=9 or if x=-2 then -2-7=-9