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 #153058 by MathTherapy(10551)\"\" \"About 
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Since the difference between the 2 numbers is – 8, it means that the larger number is subtracted from the smaller number to get – 8. By letting the smaller number be s, and the larger number l, we have the following equations:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "s – l = - 8
\n" ); document.write( "sl = 20\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Using the 1st equation to solve for l, we get: \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "- l = - 8 – s
\n" ); document.write( "l = 8 + s\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Substituting this value, 8 + s for l in equation 2, we get: \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "s(8 + s) = 20
\n" ); document.write( "\"s%5E2%2B8s-20=0\"
\n" ); document.write( "(s + 10)(s – 2) = 0\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "s = \"highlight%28-10%29\", or \"highlight%282%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, s, or the smaller number can either be – 10, or 2\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If the small number is – 10, then the larger number is - 2\r
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\n" ); document.write( "s – l = - 8
\n" ); document.write( "- 10 - - 2 = - 8
\n" ); document.write( "- 10 + 2 = - 8 (TRUE)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "sl = 20
\n" ); document.write( "- 10 * - 2 = 20 (TRUE)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If the small number is 2, then the larger number is 10\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Check
\n" ); document.write( "s - l = - 8
\n" ); document.write( "2 – 10 = - 8 (TRUE)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "sl = 20
\n" ); document.write( "2 * 10 = 20 TRUE)
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