Challenge Problem: 2014, January 27 -- Factor Me This

[g.sukhija]

Hi:

Just wondering what condition in the problem excludes the negative factors of x.

Thanks.

[tommywallach]

Hey G,

There is no such thing as a negative factor.

-t

[g.sukhija]

Hey T:

Thanks for the response. I'm a little confused by this -- on page 208 of the official guide (second edition), section 1.1 of the math review talks about factors or divisors. Here the book says:

"The positive factors of 60 are 1, 2, 3, ..." and then they go on to say "The negatives of these integers are also factors of 60, since (-2)(-30) = 60."

I was wondering why we didn't consider those negatives as part of the solution to the challenge problem.

Thanks again.

[tommywallach]

Hey G,

My apologies. You are absolutely right. We'll have to correct this.

-t