Question

What two numbers add to 10 and multiply to -192? How do you find it?

Answer 1

There is a way to do this algebraically using equations, but it is really messy so I am going to go over the way to do it. The way you do this is by finding whole numbers that multiply to make -192. Start with 1 and 192, 2 and 96, 3 and 64, etc and make the smaller number negative. 
The reason why you make the smaller number negative is because we are looking for what numbers add together to make a positive number (10). If the bigger number was negative, then we would get a negative sum. 
From what i could find, there aren't any whole numbers that satisfy this, and i doubt that the question would want you to find decimals for this. 

The way to find this with equations (in short) is to have to variables, x and y, and make two equations. in this case x+y=10 and xy=-192. Solve one equation for a variable and then use substitution to plug that variable into the other equation. if you do this you get really long decimals.