The product of two numbers is 72 and their difference is 14. Find the numbers.

Answer 1

xy=72

x=72/y

x-y =14

72/y -y = 14

multiply both sides by y

72-y^2 = 14y

y^2 -14y -72 = 0

factor

(y-18)(y+4) = 0

set each factor =0 and solve for y

y =-4, 18

x =72/y = 72/18, 72/-4

x = 4, -18

the numbers are 4 and 18

or -4 and -18