The product of two whole numbers is 24 . The smallest possible sum of these two numbers is
(A) 9
(B) 10
(C) 11
(D) 14
(E) 25
The product of two whole numbers is 24 . The smallest possible sum of these two numbers is
(A) 9
(B) 10
(C) 11
(D) 14
(E) 25

## Solution

If two whole numbers have a product of 24 then the only possibilities are $1 \times 24,2 \times 12,3 \times 8$ and $4 \times 6$. The smallest possible sum is $4+6$ or 10 .

ANSwER: (B)