SOLUTION: What is the minimum product of two numbers whose difference is 34? What are the numbers?

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Question 1058421: What is the minimum product of two numbers whose difference is 34? What are the numbers?
Found 2 solutions by solve_for_x, Alan3354:
Answer by solve_for_x(190) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x represent the larger of the two numbers.

The smaller number is then x - 34.

The product of the two numbers is:

P = x(x - 34) = x^2 - 34x

This is the equation of a parabola that opens upward. The minimum value of the product, P,
will correspond with the vertex of the parabola.

The x-coordinate of the vertex is:

x = -b/(2a) = -(-34) / (2*1) = 17

The larger value is 17.

The smaller value is 17 - 34 = -17

The minimum value of the product is then (17)(-17) = -289

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
-17*17 = -289