How do you find the two numbers by using the factoring method, if one number is seven more than the other and the product of two positive numbers is 120?

1 Answer
Dec 1, 2014

Let x be the smaller number
Let y be the larger number.

y=x+7

From the statement "the product of two positive numbers is 120", Assume x>0,y>0

x(x+7)=120

x2+7x=120

x2+7x120=0

(x8)(x+15)=0

x=8,x=15

But x should be positive.

x=8,y=15