<PRE><B>Question 187440</B>
Let N = 42

42 = n^2 - n

Subtract 42 from both sides.

n^2 - n - 42 = 0

We now have a quadratic equation.

The left side becomes (n - 7)(n + 6) and we set it to = 0

Set each factor equal 0 and solve for n.

n - 7 = 0

n = 7

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n + 6 = 0

n = -6

We reject the answer n = -6 because there is no such thing as a total of negative games.

The answer is n = 7.





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