Question 1098854
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Find the two numbers that if subtracted from 7 and 12,the product of the two numbers gives 104
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Your formulation is, OBVIOUSLY, incorrect.
Because if accept it LITERALLY, then the problem has INFINITELY many solution.



The correct formulation is THIS:


<pre>
    Find the number which if subtracted from 7 and 12, the product of the two numbers gives 104
</pre>


Then the problem is for  <U>MENTAL</U>  solution.


<pre>
    Find two integer factors of the number 104 that multiply up 104 and differ by 12-7 = 5 units:


    104 = 2*52 = 4*26 = 8*13 . . .     Ooops ! You just found them: they are 8 and 13.


    Thus the unknown number under the question is (-1):


    7 - (-1) = 8;   12 - (-1) = 13   and  8*13 = 104.
</pre>

Solved.