Question

The product of two numbers is -30, but their sum is -13. What are these two numbers?

Answer 1

Answer:

2 & -15

Step-by-step explanation:

2 * -15 = -30

2 + (-15) = -13

Answer 2

Answer:  -15 and 2

You find this through trial and error.

A much more efficient way is to solve x^2-13x-30 = 0 using the quadratic formula. You'll find the two solutions to be x = 15 and x = -2

Going from those solutions, we get x-15 = 0 and x+2 = 0 which then turn into (x-15)(x+2) = 0 through the zero product property.