Answer: [tex]x = -1[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Let the number be x .
7 times the number implies [tex]7x[/tex]
7 times a number is 8 less than the square of that number , interpreting this , we have
[tex]7x +8 = x^{2}[/tex]
re - arranging , we have :
[tex]x^{2} - 7x - 8 = 0[/tex]
factorizing the quadratic expression , we have:
[tex](x-8)(x+1) = 0[/tex]
either [tex](x-8) =0[/tex] or [tex](x+1) = 0[/tex]
Therefore :
[tex]x = 8[/tex] or [tex]x = -1[/tex]
Therefore , the negative solution is -1