You can put this solution on YOUR website! words problem (algebra) find the two real numbers whose sum is 4 and whose product is a minimum
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Sum: x + y = 4
Product = xy
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y = 4-x
Substitute that into "Product" to get:
P = x(4-x)
P = 4x-x^2
That is a quadratic with a = -1, b = 4
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Comment: That "Product" does not have a minimum; it does have a maximum.
Max occurs at x = -b/2a = -4/(2*-1) = 2
Maximum product is P = 2*(4-2)= 2*2 = 4
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Graph of the Product function.
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I guess you could say it has a minimum Product
at x = 0 or x = 4. The Product would be zero.
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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