The sum of squares of two numbers is 520 and there difference is 4 what is smaller number.

1 answer

let the smaller be x
then the larger is x+4

x^2 + (x+4)^2 = 520
x^2 + x^2 + 8x + 16 = 520
2x^2 + 8x - 504
x^2 + 4x - 252 = 0
(x+18)(x-14) = 0
x = -18 or x = 14

2 cases:
if x = -18 , the smaller is -18, the larger is -14
if x = 14, then the larger is 18