Question

What two numbers multiply together to get -42 and add up to be -1?

Answer 1

-7 and 6

Explanation:

You can solve this problem by setting up a system of equations. Lets call the first number x, and the second number y. Now:

x*y=-42

x+y=-1

You can subtract y from both sides of the second equation to get x=-y-1, which you can then substitute into the first:

(-y-1)*y=-42

-y^2-y=-42

y^2+y-42=0

Solving the quadratic equation:

(y-6)(y+7)=0

y=-7 or 6

x= 6 or -7

When one of the numbers is -7, the other is 6, and when it is 6, the other is -7. Hope this helps!