Question 1134697
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<pre>
The standard way is to write a quadratic equation


    x*(-5 - x) = -24,


where x is one of the two numbers and -5 - x is the other number.


Then you transform the equation into the simpler equivalent form


    x*(x + 5) = 24,

    x^2 + 5x - 24 = 0.


At this point, you can find the solution by using the quadratic formula or by factoring


    (x+8)*(x-3) = 0.


The numbers are -8 and 3.      <U>ANSWER</U>
</pre>


There is much simpler way to solve the problem MENTALLY without using equations.



<pre>
In such problems, as a rule, the solutions are integer numbers.


So, you try guessing the factors of the number -24 that sum up to -5.


You will try  24 = 12*2 = 6*4 = 8*3  and very fast you will find the <U>ANSWER</U>:


    the numbers are  -8  and  3,  exactly the same as in the solution above.
</pre>



After solving one - two - three such problems, &nbsp;you will be able to guess the answer &nbsp;<U>MENTALLY</U>  &nbsp;and  &nbsp;<U>MOMENTARILY</U>.


demonstrating &nbsp;<U>a good style</U>  &nbsp;solving such problems.



But in that cases when such an approach does not work, &nbsp;you must apply the full scale solution using quadratic equations.