The square of a certain negative number is equal to five more than one-half of that number. What is the number?

-1/2

-5/2

-2

The answer is - 2

using algebra we can write this out as x^2=1/2 (x) + 5

-1/2^2=1/2 (-1/2) + 5

1/4 = - 1/4+5

1/4=19/4 (this is not true so it cant be - 1/2)

-5/2^2=1/2 (-5/2) + 5

25/4 = - 5/4+5

25/4=15/4 (this is not true so it cant be - 5/2)

-2^2=1/2 (-2) + 5

4 = - 1+5

4=4 (this IS true therefore it is the answer)

(-2) ^2 = 1/2 (-2) + 5

4 = - 1+5

4=4

Answer - 2