5 times a number is 14 less than the square of that number. Find the negative solution.

Answer:-2

Let x = your number.

5x = x^2 - 14. To figure out the number, we have to first subtract 5x from each side.

0 = x^2 - 5x - 14. Factor.

0 = (x - 7) (x + 2). Set both terms to 0.

(x - 7) = 0. Add 7 to each side.

x = 7. You're looking for the negative value so this isnt the right one.

Set the other term (x + 2) equal to 0

(x + 2) = 0. Subtract 2 from each side.

x = - 2

The negative solution for your number is - 2