SOLUTION: Which one of these numbers is equal to the product of the other four numbers? A -2 B 3/4 C 1/6 D -1/4 E 9

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Question 1186445: Which one of these numbers is equal to the product of the other four numbers?
A -2 B 3/4 C 1/6 D -1/4 E 9
Found 3 solutions by MathLover1, ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by MathLover1(20849) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Which one of these numbers is equal to the product of the other four numbers?
A=+-2+
B+=3%2F4+
C=+1%2F6+
D+=-1%2F4+
E+=9
%289%29%28-1%2F4%29%281%2F6%29%28-2%29=3%2F4+
answer:3%2F4+ is equal to the product of the other four numbers

Answer by ikleyn(52776) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

This exercise is not for tutors.


This exercise is for those who suffers of nothing to do.



Answer by greenestamps(13198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The response from one tutor shows the answer without saying anything about how to find the answer; presumably they just used trial and error. Trial and error is sometimes useful in mathematics; but showing a solution obtained by trial and error doesn't teach the student anything.

The other tutor, apparently thinking trial and error is the only method for solving the problem, simply says this is not a math problem.

But there is, in fact, a simple formal mathematical method for solving the problem.

If one of the five numbers is the product of the other four, then the product of all five of them is the square of that one number.

(-2)(3/4)(1/6)(-1/4)(9) = 9/16 = (3/4)^2

ANSWER: 3/4 is the product of the other four numbers.