Question

If the product of two numbers is 14 and one of the numbers is 3 1/2 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


`3.5x^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