16Hit1600
Advanced MathHardSum of two numbers from their product and the sum of their squares

Advanced Math practice question

The product of two positive numbers is 36, and the sum of their squares is 97. What is the sum of the two numbers?

Answer: 13

(a + b)² = a² + b² + 2ab = 97 + 72 = 169, so a + b = 13 (positive numbers). The numbers are 9 and 4.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 5
5 is a − b, from (a − b)² = 97 − 72 = 25.
If you answered 133
133 adds ab once instead of twice.
If you answered 169
169 is (a + b)², not a + b.

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