MHB What are the factors of -48 that result in a positive sum?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on finding factors of -48 that yield a positive sum when paired with their corresponding positive counterparts. The factors identified include -1, -2, -3, -4, and -6, each paired with 48, 24, 16, 12, and 8 respectively. The sums calculated from these pairs show that they all result in positive numbers, with the highest being 47 from -1 and 48. The conversation suggests that using a straightforward method ("plug and play") can be effective for this problem. Ultimately, the practicality of the approach is emphasized over theoretical methods.
karush
Gold Member
MHB
Messages
3,240
Reaction score
5
ok I don't don't know de jure on this so ...

is it just plug and play??

find factors of -48
$-1(48)=-48$
$-2(24)=-48$
$-3(16)=-48$
$-4(12)=-48$
$-6(8)=-48$
check sums for positive number
$-1+48=47$
$-2+24=22$
$-3+16=13$
$-4+12=8$
$-6+8=2$it looks like c. 5
 

Attachments

  • 036.png
    036.png
    3.3 KB · Views: 150
Mathematics news on Phys.org
karush said:
is it just plug and play??

Well, if just plug and play can get you there faster, why bother with theoretical method?
 
mahalo;)
 
Last edited:

Thread 'Trigonometry problem of interest'

Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
View full post »
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'

Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'

Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
View full post »
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'

Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'

Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...
View full post »

Similar threads

MHB How do you factor expressions like 3(x + h)^4 - 48(x + h)^2?
Replies
2
Views
1K
MHB Solving for x and k: Positive Ints
Replies
12
Views
3K
A Finite series and product of Gammas
Replies
8
Views
2K
I Can New Theorems Predict Incomplete 5x5 Magic Square Solutions?
2
Replies
68
Views
11K
MHB How Do You Solve a Geometric Sum with Alternating Signs?
Replies
2
Views
1K
Summing divergences and the real projective line
Replies
3
Views
2K
B Natural Numbers contain all the Primes
Replies
24
Views
3K
MHB Prove: Positive Integer n Sum Equation
Replies
3
Views
2K
MHB Find Vol Bound by $x_2 =\frac{y+1}{2}$ & $x_1=y^2$
Replies
2
Views
2K
Maple Find Jordan Canonical Form with Maple
Replies
1
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top