What 2 numbers added together to equal -6 and multiplied to equal -432?

Answer 1

The two numbers are 18 and -24.

If you're having trouble with the factoring, you can always use the quadratic formula:

Let the two numbers be a & b. a*b = P and a+b = S {for Product and Sum}

So substitute b = S-a {from the Sum formula}, and you have a*(S-a) = P, or:

• a*S - a² = P ----> a² - S*a + P = 0.
• So with the quadratic formula:

1. a1 = (-S + sqrt(S^2 - 4*1*P)/(2*1) And
2. a2 = (-S - sqrt(S^2 - 4*1*P)/(2*1)

Substituting -432 for P and -6 for S, we get a1 = 18, and a2 = -24. Note that substituting a1 into the original formulas, gives b = a2, or if you use a2, then you get b=a1. So the two numbers are a1 and a2.