Two whole numbers add to 17 and the sum of their squares is 185. What are the numbers

4 answers

follow the same logic I used in your previous post:

x+y = 18
x^2+y^2 = 185

go for it
except, don't make my typo. Better say

x+y = 17
not real numbers

17^2 = 289 which is greater than 185
anyway
a^2 + (17-a)^2 = 185

a^2 + 289 - 34 a + a^2 = 185

2 a^2 - 34 a + 104 = 0

a^2 -17 a + 52 = 0

(a- 13)(a-4) = 0
a = 4 or 13
so they are 4 and 13 and my initial thought was wrong