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I think you probably want it the other way around: numbers that add to -9 and multiply to 20. These would be -4 and -5.

How you wrote it:

x + y = 20

xy = -9

x = 20 - y

(20 - y)y = -9

-y^2 + 20y = -9

y^2 - 20y - 9 = 0

(-(-20) +/- sqrt((-20)^2 - 4(1)(-9)))/(2(1)) = y

(20 +/- sqrt(436))/2

10 +/- 2sqrt(109)/2

10 +/- sqrt(109) = y

x + y = 20

x + (10 +/- sqrt(109) = 20

If +,

x + 10 + sqrt(109) = 20

x = 10 - sqrt(109)

If -,

x + 10 - sqrt(109) = 20

x = 10 + sqrt(109)

The two numbers are thus:

10 + sqrt(109) and 10 - sqrt(109)

Check:

x + y = 20

(10 + sqrt(109)) + (10 - sqrt(109)) = 20

10 + 10 + sqrt(109) - sqrt(109) = 20

20 = 20

xy = -9

(10 + sqrt(109))(10 - sqrt(109)) = -9

Difference of squares => (a+b)(a-b)=(a^2 - b^2)

10^2 - sqrt(109)^2 = -9

100 - 109 = -9

-9 = -9

The solutions do work, so the numbers are:

10 + sqrt(109) and 10 - sqrt(109)

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13y ago
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Q: What number that add to make 20 and times to make -9?
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