Question

Two integers, A and B, have a product of -48. What is the greatest possible sum of A and B?

Answer 1

"Two integers, A and B, have a product of -48"

which means

A*B = -48

Answer 2

I'm going to solve for B to get

B = -48/A

I just divided both sides by A

Answer 3

now we're asked this: What is the greatest possible sum of A and B?

Let y = A+B

then plug in B = -48/A to get

y = A + (-48/A)

and finally replace A with x. So we're making A = x

y = x + (-48/x)

with me so far?

Answer 4

Thanks!

Answer 5

well this isn't finished though, but hopefully you see how to finish up

Answer 6

Basically one of ur numbers will be negative. 6*-8= -48