When a number is substracted by its square, the result is 42. Find the two possible solutions.

Question

I end up with this format:

x-x*x=42 is it correct?

Answer 1

You are wording it wrong. The way you have it worded you end up with imaginary numbers.

When a number is subtracted from its square the result is 42 !

x^2-x=42

x^2-x-42=0

(x-7)(x+6)=0

x-7=0

x=7

7^2-7=49-7=42

x+6=0

x=-6

(-6)^2-(-6)=36-(-6)=36+6=42

7 and -6 are the numbers