Number 2 (Solution 1)

John and Dave were asked to add two whole numbers. Instead, John subtracted the two numbers
and got 10, and Dave multiplied them and got 651. What was the correct sum?
Understand the Problem
- There are two whole numbers that should be added by John and Dave
- Since the both numbers are whole numbers, its sum would also be whole numbers (closure
property of addition)
- John subtracted the two numbers and its difference is 10
- Dave multiplied the same two numbers used by John and its product is 651
- The problem asked for the sum of the two numbers
- Algebra and arithmetic Mathematics might be applied to solve the problem
Devise a Plan
John Dave Finding the Sum
Let s be the first number s – t = 10 (s) (t) = 651 s+t=?
Let t be the second number

- First, find the value of s by the equation of John to be substituted in finding t

- Substitute the s value to the equation of Dave to find the value of t
- Perform mathematical solving with algebraic and arithmetic concept of mathematics
Carry – out the Plan
Step 1: Find the value of s using John’s equation
s – t = 10
s – t + t = 10 + t
s = t + 10

Step 2: Substitute the value of s to Dave’s equation to find the value of t

(s) (t) = 651 t 2 + 10t - 651= 0 −10∓52

2
s = t + 10 Use quadratic formula

(t + 10) (t) = 651 −b ∓ √ b2−4 ac -5 ∓ 26

2a
(t*t) + (10*t) = 651 t 1=−5−26
2 a=1
t + 10t = 651 b = 10 = - 31
c = - 651 t 2=−5+26
t 2 + 10t - 651= 651 – 651
−10∓ √(10)2 −4 (1)(−651) = 21
t 2 + 10t - 651= 0 2(1) - Since the two addends are whole
Quadratic function numbers, the value of t should be a
−10∓ √100−4 (−651)
whole number
2 - (- 31) is not a whole number,
−10∓ √ 100+2604 therefore, 21 is the value of t.
2 t = 21

−10∓ √2704
2
Step 3: Since we already have the value of t which is 21, substitute it to the equation of John.
s – t = 10
s – (21) = 10
s – 21 + 21 = 10 + 21
s = 31

Step 4: We already have the two whole number addends to be used to get the sum which is being asked in
the problem. We just now need to substitute those values to the equation in finding the sum of two whole
numbers.
s = 31
t = 21

s+t=?
31 + 21 = 52
The sum of the two whole numbers is 52

Step 5: Check if we found the right addends by substituting them to John or Dave’s equation
John Dave
s – t = 10 (s) (t) = 651
(31) – (21) = 10 (31) (21) = 651
31 – 21 = 10 651 = 651
10 = 10
Look Back and Reflect
We use variables to represent a certain number which is needed to solve the problem. The
concept of algebra and arithmetic mathematics is also important. In solving quadratic function, we can
use factoring, quadratic formula, extracting square root, and completing the square but in here, I used
quadratic formula. Checking is also important to be sure that you have arrive in a correct answer. There
are many ways on how we deal with the problem like instead of using John’s equation in finding the first
whole number, you can use Dave’s equation.
Number 2 (Solution 2)
John and Dave were asked to add two whole numbers. Instead, John subtracted the two numbers
and got 10, and Dave multiplied them and got 651. What was the correct sum?
Understand the Problem
- There are two whole numbers that should be added by John and Dave
- Since the both numbers are whole numbers, its sum would also be whole numbers (closure
property of addition)
- John subtracted the two numbers and its difference is 10
- Dave multiplied the same two numbers used by John and its product is 651
- The problem asked for the sum of the two numbers
- Algebra and arithmetic Mathematics might be applied to solve the problem
Devise a Plan

John Dave Finding the Sum

Let s be the first number s – t = 10 (s) (t) = 651 s+t=?
Let t be the second number

- Listing method is one way to find the value of the two whole numbers namely s and t. If s
and t have the same value in John and Dave’s equation, then absolutely they are their right
values.
Carry – out the Plan

John Dave Finding the Sum

s – t = 10 (s) (t) = 651 s+t=?

List: 20 – 10 = 10 Manipulate the equation: 31 + 21 = 52

21 – 11 = 10 651
s=
22 – 12 = 10 t
23 – 13 = 10 Since the two
numbers is whole
24 – 14 = 10 number, the quotient
25 – 15 = 10 should also be a whole
26 – 16 = 10 number.
27 – 17 = 10 651
217 =
28 – 18 = 10 3
29 – 19 = 10
30 – 20 = 10 651
31 – 21 = 10 93 =
7
32 – 22 = 10
33 – 23 = 10
651
31 =
21

s = 31 s = 31
s + t = 52
t = 21 t = 21

Look Back and Reflect

 By using variables and listing method, we can find the correct values of the two whole numbers
and we arrive to find its sum which is also a whole number. Also, the concept of algebra and arithmetic
mathematics as well as the properties real numbers like the closure property of addition helps in solving
the problem.