document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1102795>Question 1102795</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What two numbers add to four and one multiplied together equals -12 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #717561 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=717561\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Using formal algebra to answer this question is nonsense -- unless it is from a lesson where you are supposed to solve the problem using formal algebraic methods.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "It takes FAR less time to find the solution using logical trial and error.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The product of the two numbers is -12, so one of them has to be negative.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The sum is positive, so the positive number has to be larger in absolute value.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So, ignoring the signs for the moment, what pairs of numbers have a product of 12?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "12*1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6*2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4*3<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The second pair has a difference of 4 -- which is what we need, since the signs are opposite.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And since we want the sum to be positive, the two numbers are 6 and -2. </SPAN>\n" );
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