SOLUTION: PLEASE HELP ME SOLVE THIS EQUATION: The sum of two numbers is 8.5 and their product is 18. Find the numbers? Thank you!!

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Evaluation -> SOLUTION: PLEASE HELP ME SOLVE THIS EQUATION: The sum of two numbers is 8.5 and their product is 18. Find the numbers? Thank you!!      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 319274: PLEASE HELP ME SOLVE THIS EQUATION: The sum of two numbers is 8.5 and their product is 18. Find the numbers?

Thank you!!
Answer by nyc_function(2741) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a + b = 8.5
a*b = 18

===========

a = 18/b
18/b + b/1 = 8.5
18 + b^2 = 8.5b
b^2 - 8.5b + 18 = 0
b = 4 and b = 4.5
====================
a + b = 8.5
a + 4.5 = 8.5
a = 8.5 - 4.5
a = 4
=====================
In this question, a can be 4 or 4.5; the same numbers apply to b.
The two numbers are 4 and 4.5.