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

=> x^2 + 7x = 120

=> x^2 + 7x - 120 = 0

=> (x - 8)(x + 15) = 0

=> x = 8, x = -15

But x should be positive.

x = 8, y = 15