What two numbers have the product of - 135 and the sum of 6?

Step 1: Find factors of 135

1 and 135

3 and 45

5 and 27

9 and 15

Remember the rules for multiplication involving negatives:

Multiplying a negative with a negative will always be positive.

Multiplying a negative with a positive will always be negative.

So in order for the product to be - 135, one number of each factor pair will need to be negative.

Step 2: Figure out which factor pair will add together to get the sum of 6

(Remember at least one from each pair will be negative)

Part A:

1 + (-135) = - 134

3 + (-45) = - 42

5 + (-27) = - 22

9 + (-15) = - 6

Part B:

135 + (-1) = 134

45 + (-3) = 42

27 + (-5) = 22

15 + (-9) = 6

(Knowing that the sum of adding a larger negative number to a smaller positive number will be negative, will make this a bit faster because you would just skip to Part B)

The sum of 15 and - 9 is 6. So there is the answer.

You can also check it, just to make sure it's the correct answer.

15 * (-9) = - 135

15 + (-9) = 6