Question

the sum of two numbers is -4. the difference between those numbers is -38. what are the numbers?

Answer 1

Answer:

The numbers are $-21$ and $17$.

Step-by-step explanation:

If we let the numbers be $x$ and $y$, we can write the following system of equations to solve for them:

$x+y=-4$ (since the sum - which indicates addition - of the two numbers is $-4$)

$x-y=-38$ (since the difference - which indicates subtraction - of the two numbers is $-38$)

Solving for $x$ and $y$, we get:

$x+y=-4\\x-y=-38$

$2x=-42$ (Add the two equations together)

$x=-21$ (Divide both sides of the equation by $2$ to get rid of $x$'s coefficient and simplify)

$-21+y=-4$ (Substitute $x=-21$ into one of the equations, I chose the first one but it doesn't matter which one you choose)

$y=17$ (Add $21$ to both sides of the equation to isolate $y$ and simplify)

Therefore, the numbers are $-21$ and $17$. Hope this helps!