First we have to set up our two equations:
X + Y = 10 XY = 40
We solve the first equation for Y: X + Y = 10 => X + Y - X = 10 - X => Y = 10 - X
Substitute the Y value in the first equation into the second equation:
XY = 40 => X(10 - X) = 40 => 10X - X^2 = 40
Rearrange the terms to produce a quadratic: -X^2 + 10X = 40 => -X^2 + 10X - 40 = 40 - 40 => -X^2 + 10X - 40 = 0
Flip the signs: -X^2 + 10X - 40 = 0 => +X^2 - 10X + 40 = 0 => X^2 - 10X + 40 = 0
Here, coefficient of X^2 is 1, X is -10 and the constant is 40. So, a = 1, b = -10, c = 40.
Substitute these values into the quadratic formula to find X: X = [-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)]/2a => X = [-(-10) ± √((-10)^2 - 4(1)(40)]/2(1) => X = [10 ± √(100 - 160)]/2 => X = [10 ± √(-60)]/2 => X = [10 ± √(-1 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 5)]/2 => X = [10 ± √(-1) * √2 * √2 * √3 * √5]/2 => X = [10 ± i * 2 * √3 * √5]/2 => X = [10 ± 2√(3*5)i]/2] => X = (10 ± 2√15i)/2 => X = 10/2 ± 2√15i/2 => X = 5 ± √15i X = 5 + √15i or X = 5 - √15i
Substitute these into the first equation to find their respective Y values.
For X = 5 + √15i: Y = 10 - X => Y = 10 - (5 + √15i) => Y = 10 - 5 - √15i => Y = 5 - √15i
For X = 5 - √15i; Y = 10 - X => Y = 10 - (5 - √15i) => Y = 10 - 5 + √15i => Y = 5 - √15i
We see that the X in equation two equals the Y in equation 1 and vice versa. So these are the only two values.
So, the two numbers are 5 - √15i and 5 + √15i.
It was quite a famous question, being featured on the Area Magne as an unsolvable question because of the methods at the time used to solve equations not being equipped for complex, even negative numbers. Including famous methods such as Cardano's Method, Geometric methods, etc. Nowadays it would be quite an easy question involving very basic use of the imaginary number(i = √-1), and a knowledge of how to solve linear systems of equations(a fancy way of saying a bunch of related equations). But it was enough to stump math geniuses of that time. Now that I think about it, a lot of high school math today would stump mathematicians of old. But, we still owe it to them.
Hope this helps :)
-22
14
10
no 3 numbers add to equal 10 and multiply to equal 40.
-14
76
The numbers are 10 and -9
34
5 Multiplied by 5 = 25 plus 10 =35
12 10 10 10
175
26