document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=930496>Question 930496</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> one number is four more than another. the product of the numbers is 2 less than the smaller number. find the smaller number  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #565046 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=algebrahouse.com><B>algebrahouse.com(1659)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=algebrahouse.com><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=algebrahouse.com><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=565046\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x = one number<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 4 = other number\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x(x + 4) = x - 2 {the product of the two numbers is 2 less than the smaller}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x² + 4x = x - 2 {used distributive property}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x² + 3x + 2 = 0 {subtracted x and added 2 to each side}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x + 2)(x + 1) = 0 {factored into two binomials}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 2 = 0 or x + 1 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = -2 or x = -1 {solved each equation for x}\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The smaller numbers are -2 or -1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So, if you want to be picky, the very smallest of those two would be -2<BR>\n" );
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