16Hit1600
Advanced MathVery hardSum of the squares of two roots

Advanced Math practice question

The equation x² − 2x − 8 = 0 has two solutions. What is the sum of their squares?

Answer: 20

The solutions are 4 and −2, so the sum of their squares is 16 + 4 = 20.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
4 is the sum of the solutions squared: 2² = 4.
If you answered 12
12 subtracts instead of adding.
If you answered -8
−8 is the product of the roots.

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