Question

a positive real number is 2 less than another when 4 times the larger is added to the square of the smaller the result is 49 find the numbers

Answer 1

• 3√5 ≈ 6.7082
• 3√5 -2 ≈ 4.7082

Explanation:

Let x represent the larger number. Then x-2 is the smaller one. The sum is ...

4x + (x-2)^2 = 49

x^2 + 4 = 49 . . . . . simplify

x^2 = 45 . . . . . . . . subtract 4

x = √45 = 3√5 . . . . take the square root

The larger number is 3√5, and the smaller number is 2 less, 3√5 -2.