The square of a number minus three times a number equals

negative two.

The number is either 2 or 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Where x is the unknown number, the square of may be interpreted as x², then the square of the number minus three times the number will be equivalent to

x² - 3x

If this is equal to 2 then

x² - 3x = - 2

such that

x² - 3x + 2 = 0

This may be solved using factorization of quadratic equation

x² - 2x - x + 2 = 0

x (x - 2) - 1 (x - 2) = 0

(x - 2) (x-1) = 0

x = 2 or 1