Question

A pair of factors of -35 that has a sum of -2

Answer 1

-7,5

Explanation:

lets take x and y as the unknown numbers

xy=-35

x+y=-2

go through all the factors of -35

Answer 2

The pair of factors in question are x = 5 and y = -7

Explanation:

Let the factors be represented by x and y. Then x*y = -35 and x + y = -2.

Solving the first equation for y yields x = -35/y.

Substituting -35/y for x in the second equation yields

-35/y + y = -2.

Multiplying all three terms by y yields -35 + y^2 = -2y, or

y^2 + 2y - 35 = 0.

Let's solve for y. Note that this quadratic factors easily into (y + 7)(y - 5) = 0.

Then either y = -7 or y = 5. Going back to x = -35/y and letting y = -7, we find that x = -35/(-7) = 5.

The pair of factors in question are x = 5 and y = -7, or y = -5 and x = 7.