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rohan2345
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The problem is:

"p, q, r, s, and t are five equally spaced points on the number line. What is the value of p*q?

1. p*r =16

2. q= -5"

From 1 we know that p * r = 16. Since they are equally spaced points, let's assume the distance between points is d.

This gives us:

p * (p + 2d) = 16 or p^2 + 2pd = 16.

We want the value of p * q. That is:
p * (p + d) or p^2 + d.

It is impossible to solve it with these data.

From 2 we know that q = -5. Since we know the points are equally spaced, q is the middle of pr.
Since q is a negative number, and p < q, p is also negative.
From 1, p*r = 16, we know now that r is also negative.

So the best way to go on is trying to find the values of p*r = 16.
First we could try -1 and -16, but this way -5 is not the middle.
The second try could be -2 and -8. And that's it.

(-2) * (-8) = 16 and the middle point is -5.

C
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Assuming that p,q,r,s and t are in increasing order. It should be mention in the question though.

Statement 1- p*r=16
(p,r) can be (1,16), (2, 8), (-16, -1) (-8, -2) and so on.(need not to be integers)
value of q can be 8.5, 5, -8.5, -5.......
Insufficient

Statement 2
q= -5
p can be any real number on the left side of q
Insufficient

Combining both equations
p*r=16
(q-x)(q+x)=16
q^2-x^2=16
x=3

p=-5-3=-8
P*q=40
Sufficient




rohan2345
p, q, r, s, and t are five equally spaced points on the number line. What is the value of p*q?

1. p*r =16

2. q= -5
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