Question

the difference between two positive numvers is 2 and the difference between their squares is 40.
taking x to be the smaller of the two numbers, form an equation in x and solve it.

thank you in advance!

Answer 1

Just translate the English into "math"

<the difference between two positive numvers is 2 > --->
smaller number is x
larger number is x+2

<the difference between their squares is 40> ---->

(x+2)^2 - x^2 = 40

now solve that quadratic.

Answer 2

x=9! thankyou for your help!

Answer 3

x=9