+603 Let $x$ and $y$ be complex numbers. If $x + y = 2$ and $x^3 + y^3 = 5$, then what is $x^2 + y^2$?
+897 We can use the information we already know to solve this problem!
First off, let's note that \((x+y)^3 = x^{3}+3x^{2}y+3xy^{2}+y^{3}\), which we can simplify to \(8=5+6xy\). Solving for xy, we get \(xy=1/2\).
This may seem useless, but it will come into play later.
Now, we know that \((x+y)^2 = x^2+2xy+y^2\), which contains x^2+y^2. Isolating this, we get \(x^2+y^2 = (x+y)^2 - 2xy\).
We already know all the terms! We can plug in 1/2 and 2 which we know from above! We get \(x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 1 = 3\).
So 3 is our answer!
Thanks! :)
