Question

A negative number is 42 less than it’s square.

Answer 1

Let x = the number

A negative number is 42 less than its square ⇒

x = x2 - 42

x2 - x - 42 = 0

(x - 7)(x + 6) = 0

x = 7 or -6

But since it is given that x is negative, the final answer is x = -6.