The sum of two positive numbers is 10. Find these numbers if the sum of

their squares is a maximum.

5 answers

a + b = 10
y = a^2 + b^2
y = a^2 + (10-a)^2
y = 2 a^2 - 20 a +100 = 2 (a^2 -10 a + 50)
dy/da = 0 at max or min = 2 [ 2a - 10 }
so
a = 5
b = 5
Point ( 5 , 5 ) is. minimum of function

y = 2 a² 20 a +100

You also must doo second derivative test.

If y" < 0 then function has a local maximum.

If y" > 0 then function has a local minimum.

In this case y" = 4 > 0

So for a = 5 , b = 5 function

y = 2 a² 20 a +100

has a minimum.

You can check that.

a = 1 , b = 9 , a² + b² = 82

a = 2 , b = 8 , a² + b² = 68

a = 3 , b = 7 , a² + b² = 58

a = 4 , b = 6 , a² + b² = 52

a = 5 , b = 5 , a² + b² = 50

a = 6 , b = 4 is same as

a = 4 , b = 5 , a² + b² = 52

a = 7 , b = 3 is same as

a = 7 , b = 3 , a² + b² = 58

etc.

For a = 5 , b = 5

y = 2 a² 20 a +100 has a minimum.

The function y = 2 a² 20 a +100

has no maximum
surely there is a maximum, as both numbers cannot exceed 10!
0^2 + 10^2 = 100
1^2 + 9^2 = 82
...
5^2 + 5^2 = 50
So clearly 1,9 gives the maximum sum of squares.
Assuming the numbers he is looking for are whole numbers, but it didn't
say that.
So, we have a poorly worded question.

I can find a pair that have a higher max than 1,0
how about .005, 9.995 , for a sum of squares of 99.90005

the sum of their squares will approach 100, but never get there, since
one of the numbers being zero cannot happen.
sir, you are correct.
But I think you ascribe too much mathematical sophistication to the humble student.