Question

Two integers a and b have a product of -33. What is the least possible sum of a and b

Answer 1

 

The number -33 divisors are:

D(-33) = {-33, -11, -3, -1, 1, 3, 11, 33}

a × b = -33

1)  -33 × 1 = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   -33 + 1 = -32

2)  -11 × 3 = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   -11 + 3 = -8

3)  -3 × 11 = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   -3 + 11 = 8

4)  -1 × 33 = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   -1 + 33 = 32

5)  1 × (-33) = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   1 + (-33) = 1 - 33 = -32

6)  3 × (-11) = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   3 + (-11) = 3 - 11 = -8

7)  11 × (-3) = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   11 + (-3) = 11 - 3 = 8

8)  33 × (-1) = -33   ⇒   Sum is:   33 + (-1) = 33 - 1 = 32

The least possible sum of a and b is  -32

to 1)  and to 5)