document.write( "Question 748809: What multiplication problem can give you negative 18, but when subtracted, gives you a negative 1? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #455675 by tommyt3rd(5050) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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a*b=-18\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "a-b=-1\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "which we rewrite as \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "a=b-1\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "then we substitute\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(b-1)b=-18\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now we solve for b\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "b^2-b+18=0\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "which has the following solution\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"%0D%0Ab=%281%2B-+i%2Asqrt%2871%29%29%2F2%0D%0A\"$ \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So as you can see there is no real pair of numbers that can do both at the same time but if we allow the numbers to be complex, then it is possible\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( ":)
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