Two numbers that add to -7 and multiply to -18

Answer 1

First it's helpful to list out the numbers that multiply to get a product of 18. This could be (1 x 18) (2 x 9) or (3 x 6). From this, you could examine which numbers would add to 7. (1, 18) is out and so is (3, 6).

The only answer left is (2, 9) but you must put the negative sign so that it multiplies to -18 and add to -7. Since one negative sign times a positive number is a negative number, you only need to put one negative sign on 2 or 9.

The answer is either 2 - 9 = -7 OR -9 +2 = -7.

Hope this helps!