16Hit1600
Advanced MathVery hardSquare of a difference from symmetric facts

Advanced Math practice question

If a² + b² = 40 and ab = 12, what is the value of (a − b)²?

Answer: 16

(a − b)² = a² − 2ab + b² = 40 − 24 = 16.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
4 is a − b, not its square.
If you answered 28
28 subtracts ab once.
If you answered 64
64 is (a + b)², adding 2ab instead of subtracting.

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