Question

The product of two integers is 72. One number is two less than five times the other.

Which of the following equations could be used to find one of the numbers?

2x2 - 5 = 72
2x2 - 5x = 72
5x2 - 2x = 72
5x2 - 2 = 72

Answer 1

First number = x
Second number = 5x- 2

x(5x-2) = 72
5x2 - 2x = 72

Answer 2

Answer:
5x^2 - 2x = 72

Explanation:
Assume that the two numbers are x and y.
We are given that:
1- The product of the two numbers is 72, this means that:
    xy = 72 .........> equation I
2- One number is 2 less than 5 times the other, this means that:
    y = 5x - 2 ........> equation II
Substitute with equation I in equation II and simplify as follows:
xy = 72
x (5x-2) = 72
5x^2 - 2x = 72
Comparing the calculated result to the choices given, we will find that the correct choice is the third one

Hope this helps :)