document.write( "Question 992141: a number is subtracted from 20 and from 17.the product of the numbers so obtained is 180.find the original number \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #611781 by ikleyn(52855)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
\n" ); document.write( "(20-x)*(17-x) = 180.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "180 = 12*15  is an appropriate factorization of  180  into the product of two numbers that differs in  3. \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So,  20-x = 15  (greater of these two factors),\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "which implies \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 5.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "180 = (-12)*(-15)  is also an appropriate factorization of  180  into the product of two numbers that differs in  3. \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So,  20-x = -12, \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "which implies \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 32.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer.  Two solutions are  x=5  and  x=32.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "P.S.  Surely,  you can solve the quadratic equation above by using the quadratic formula. \r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );