Final answer:
To find the two numbers, let's call them x and y. The difference between the two numbers is -1 and their sum is -27. By solving the system of equations x - y = -1 and x + y = -27, we find that the numbers are -14 and -13.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the two numbers, let's call them x and y. We know that the difference between the two numbers is -1, so we can write an equation: x - y = -1. We also know that the sum of the two numbers is -27, so we can write another equation: x + y = -27.
Now we can solve this system of equations by adding the two equations together. Adding the equations eliminates the y term: (x - y) + (x + y) = -1 + (-27). Simplifying, we get 2x = -28. Dividing both sides by 2, we find that x = -14.
Substituting this value back into one of the original equations, x + y = -27, we can solve for y: -14 + y = -27. Adding 14 to both sides, we find that y = -13.
Therefore, the two numbers are -14 and -13.