document.write( "Question 202878: The difference of two numbers is -8 and the product is 20. The smallest number is? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #153053 by dyakobovitch(40)\"\" \"About 
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The difference of two numbers is -8 and the product is 20. The smallest number is?\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x-y=-8 ; xy=20.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, x=y - 8. Using substitution, we have:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(y-8)y=20
\n" ); document.write( "y^2-8y-20=0
\n" ); document.write( "(y-10)(y+2)=0. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Your two numbers are -2 and 10. (Note: It doesn't matter whether x or y is -2 or 10, since you are only looking for the smallest number).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, your answer is -2.\r
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