SOLUTION: I am having difficulty solving the following problem. Can someone please assist me in doing so. Thanks! One number is 6 less than another. The product of the number is 72. Find th

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Question 169972: I am having difficulty solving the following problem. Can someone please assist me in doing so. 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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