What multiplies to equal negative 60 but adds to equal negative 4?

Answer 1

64

Answer 2

Call the asked-for numbers a and b. From the problem statement, a X b = -60 and a + b = -4. From the second of these equations, a = -4 - b. Substituting this expression in the first equation yields (-4 - b)b = -60 = -4b - b2. Rearranging this equation to standard quadratic form yields b2 - 4b - 60 = 0, which can be factored into (b + 10)(b - 6) = 0, which is true when b is either -10 or +6. These latter two numbers are the answer to the problem.