Let us assume the two numbers to be "x" and "y". Then xy = - 24 x = - (24/y) And x + y = 2 Putting the value of x from the first equation in the second equation, we get x + y = 2 - (24/y) + y = 2 - 24 + y^2 = 2y y^2 - 2y - 24 = 0 y^2 - 6y + 4y - 24 = 0 y(y - 6) + 4(y - 6) = 0 (y - 6) (y + 4) = 0 When y - 6 = 0 y = 6 Then x + y = 2 x + 6 = 2 x = 2 - 6 = -4 And when y + 4 = 0 y = -4 Then x + y = 2 x - 4 = 2 x = 2 + 4 = 6 So the two unknown numbers are -4 and 6.
