Question

Two factors of –48 have a difference of 19. The factor with a greater absolute value is positive. What is the sum of the factors?

Answer 1

Answer:

13

Step-by-step explanation:

Two factors of -48... that means two numbers which multiplied together give a result of -48, like -6 and 8 for example.

The difference of those two factors is -19.  There not that many possible factors for -48, so if we list them we'll be able to spot a pair with a difference of 19.

A first list of factors for -48 is: -1 and 48, -2 and 24, -3 and 16, -4 and 12, -6 and 8.

We can create another list by inverting the signs: 1 and -48, 2 and -24, 3 and -16, 4 and -12, 6 and -8.

The question says the difference of the two factors is 19...  can you spot in each list a pair of factors having a difference of 19?   I see -3 and 16 and also 3 and -16.

The question also say the one of the greatest absolute value is positive... so that  means it's a pair with +16, not -16.

The pair of factors we're looking for is then -3 and 16. They are factors of -18, they have a difference of 19, and the one with the greatest absolute value is positive.

The sum of -3 and 16 is 13.