Question 586824
<pre>
Find two numbers with a sum of –32 and a difference of 2

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–18 and –16   

       sum = (-18)+(-16) = -34
difference = (-18)-(-16) = (-18)+(16) = -2

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 17 and  15

       sum = (17)+(15) = 32

difference = (17)-(15) = (17)+(-15) = 2

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–16 and –14

       sum = (-16)+(-14) = -30
difference = (-16)-(-14) = (-16)+(14) = -2

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–17 and –15

       sum = (-17)+(-15) = -32
difference = (-17)-(-15) = (-17)+(15) = -2

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Sorry, none of the choices have both a sum of -32 and 
also a difference of 2.

If the last one had been given in the opposite order, 
it would have been the answer:  


–15 and –17

       sum = (-15)+(-17) = -32
difference = (-15)-(-17) = (-15)+(17) = 2

But they were not given in that order.  Any time a problem states
"the difference of two numbers, it always means the FIRST number 
listed MINUS the SECOND number listed.  You can't reverse them.

Edwin</pre>