A 10 meter long rope is to be cut into two pieces and a square is to be made using each. The difference in the areas enclosed must be 1 1/4 square meters how should it be cut?

Question

A 10 meter long rope is to be cut into two pieces  and a square is to be made using each. The difference in the areas enclosed must be 1 1/4 square meters how should it be cut?

Steve · Answer

If the sides are x and y, then 4x+4y = 10 x^2 - y^2 = 5/4 Now just find x and y