Question

Which two numbers add up to -10 and multiply to 24

Answer 1

If our two numbers are x and y, we can write two equations.

x + y = -10

xy = 24

Then, we can solve.

x = -10 - y

(-10 - y) * y = 24

-10y - y^2 = 24

0 = y^2 + 10y + 24

0 = y^2 + 6y + 4y + 24

0 = y (y + 6) + 4 (y + 6)

0 = (y + 6) (y + 4)

So, y can be either -6 or -4. Now, notice that if y is -6, x is -4, and if y is -4, x is -6. This is because there were no provided discrepancies between the two numbers.

Anyways, our numbers will be -6 and -4.