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Can you have an equation with these solutions?
By Dave on Thursday, October 12, 2000 - 01:24 am:

Suppose the solution of an equation is the number N.
Is it possible for -N to also be a solution of this equation?
If not, why not?
if so, please give an example of such an equation and its solutions N and -N.
thanks-a-lot

By Marcus Hill (T3280) on Thursday, October 12, 2000 - 06:19 pm:

Depends on the equation. You can form an equation which has any set of solutions you care to name. For instance, if you want an equation with solutions A, B, C, D and E then one such will be (x-A)(x-B)(x-C)(x-D)(x-E) = 0.

So, for any N you like, N and -N are solutions to the equation (x-N)(x+N)=0.