SOLUTION: I really need help solving the following problem. Any assistance you can provide me in doing so will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! One number is 6 less than another. The product

Question 169975: I really need help solving the following problem. Any assistance you can provide me in doing so will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
One number is 6 less than another. The product of the number is 72. Find the numbers.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"One number is 6 less than another." translates to

"The product of the number is 72" translates to

Start with the second equation

Plug in

Distribute.

Subtract 72 from both sides.

Notice we have a quadratic equation in the form of where , , and

Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x

Start with the quadratic formula

Plug in , , and

Negate to get .

Square to get .

Multiply to get

Rewrite as

Add to to get

Multiply and to get .

Take the square root of to get .

or Break up the expression.

or Combine like terms.

or Simplify.

So the answers are or

This means that the numbers are:

12 and 6

OR...

-6 and -12

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