Question #40e89

1 Answer
Sep 7, 2017

6 & -9

Explanation:

Always when you get an algebraic form, try naming the unknowns in terms of x,y,z,... because it is going to be easier.

In your case 2 digits:
let us call the first x and the second y

"have a product of -54"
therefore,
#x*y=-54#

"have a sum of -3"
therefore,
#x+y=-3#

Now the substitution method will be used which is finding #x# in terms of #y# from one of the equations, and substituting its value in the other equation.

From the second equation,
#x+y=-3#
#x=-3-y#

Then substituting this value of #x# in the first equation:
#x*y=-54#
#(-3-y)*y=-54#

expanding the equation
#-3y-y^2=-54#

multiplying the whole function by -1
#3y+y^2=54#

putting the whole function on one side:
#y^2+3y-54=0#

Here we have to factorize the terms #y^2+3y-54#
We can see the it is of the form #y^2+ay+b#
Now we have two find two numbers that when multiplied give us -54 and when divided give us 3, which is going to be c and d
then the above equation will be factorized into the form
#(y+c)(y+d)=0#
After looking at it we see that c and d are -6 and 9.
so,
#(y+(-6))(y+9)=0#

so
#y+(-6)=0#

or
#y+9=0#

Thus by putting unknowns on one side and numbers on the other, we get that,

#y=6# or #y=-9#
applying these values of y in the first equation, we get that

#x=-3-y#

#x=-3-6=-9#

or

#x=-3-(-9)=-3+9=6#

Finally we see that these two numbers are 6 and -9