If x = −6 and x = 1 are roots, what is the sum of the roots?

Correct answer: −5

The sum of two given roots is found by ordinary addition. Here the roots are −6 and 1, so their sum is (−6) + 1 = −5. Therefore option A is correct. The negative sign must be retained because the magnitude of −6 is greater than the magnitude of 1. Option B results from ignoring the negative sign on −6. Option C incorrectly subtracts 1 from −6 instead of adding the second root, while option D uses the wrong sign and magnitude. In terms of a quadratic equation, this result is also consistent with Vieta’s relation: if the roots are α and β, then α + β is the sum of the roots, equal to −b/a for ax² + bx + c = 0.