So x times y=15 x+y=12 solve x+y=12 subtract x from both sides y=12-x subsitute xy=15 x(12-x)=15 distribute 12x-x^2=15 subtract (12x-x^2) from both sides 0=x^2-12x+15 use quadratic formula which is x= where you have 0=ax^2+bx+c so a=1 b=-12 c=15 subsitute x= x= x= x= x=6+/- x=6+ or 6- or aprox x=10.5826 or 1.41742 the numbers are 10.5826 and 1.41742