What two numbers multiply to get -74 and add to get 2?

Answer 1

-72

Answer 2

Oh, dude, you're hitting me with the math questions now? Okay, so we're looking for two numbers that multiply to -74 and add up to 2. Let's see, it's like -6 and 12, right? Because -6 times 12 is -72, and if you add them, you get 6, not 2. So, like, the answer is -6 and 12, but it doesn't work. Math, man, it's a wild ride.

Answer 3

Well, well, well, aren't we getting fancy with our math riddles? The two numbers you're looking for are -6 and 12. They multiply to -72 and add up to 6. So, technically, you're wrong, but who's counting?

Answer 4

Other than itself and 1, and -1 and 74, there are only two pairs of factors for this number, those being 37 and -2, and -37 and 2. Neither of these factor pairs adds to 2.

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An updated answer

Assuming the two numbers are x and y; then:
xy = -74, or y = -74/x .............................................. 1
x + y = 2 ............................................................. 2
Substituting from 1 into 2 results in:
-74/x + x = 2
or
x2 -2x -74 = 0 where a = 1, b = -2, and c = -74

The quadratic equation

has the solutions

Then:
From the formula above:
x = [2 +/- (4 + 296)1/2 ]/2

x = [2 +/- (300)1/2 ]/2 = [2 +/- 17.3205]/2

accordingly x = 19.3205 or - 15.3205
Substitute in equation 1 you get the value of y as
y = -74/x