Find two numbers whose sum is 42 and whose product will be at the largest possible.

3 answers

x + y = 42
y = 42-x

x(42-x)
42x-x^2

derivative 42 -2x =0
x=21 y =21
Find two numbers whose sum is 42 and whose product will be at the largest possible.
When the sum of two numbers is constant, then product of those two numbers is maximum, when those two numbers are as close to each other. As 21 + 21 = 42, so answer will be 21 × 21 = 441.