Question

A and b are integers.

The product of a and b is -36.

The sum of a and b is -5.

a is negative

What is a?
What is b?

Answer 1

a is -9

b is 4

Explanation:

we know that a and b are whole numbers.

we know that they are factors of 36.

1 * 36

2 * 18

3 * 12

4 * 9

6 * 6

i just did this as guess and check.

what numbers have a difference of 5?

the factors 4 and 9.

so, if a is the negative one, a has to be -9 to get -5 because

-9 + 4 = -5

and

(-9)(4) = 36