+0  
 
0
1233
7
avatar+589 

The sum of two numbers a and b is 20. Write an expression for the sum of their squares, in terms of a.

 Sep 28, 2021
 #1
avatar+118587 
+2

I will start you off.

a+b=20

b=20-a

 Sep 28, 2021
 #2
avatar+589 
+1

I used your tip and im stuck. I got:

 

a+b=20

10+10=20

and..

b=20-a

10=20-10

 

So when it asks "Write an expression for the sum of their squares, in terms of a." I wrote b=20-a and 10=20-10 but the answer still is wrong. Do you know where i was wrong?

 Sep 28, 2021
 #3
avatar+118587 
+1

b=20-a

 

"Write an expression for the sum of their squares."

 

a^2+b^2

=

now do the substitution and then simplify.

Melody  Sep 28, 2021
 #4
avatar+589 
+1

a^2+b^2 would be 10^2+10^2 which is 100+100 and the answer is 200. Its wrong. 

 Sep 28, 2021
 #5
avatar+118587 
+2

a and b are unknown.

you keep saying a=10 and b=10 but that is only one of an infinite number of possibilities.

a could be 8 and b 12

or a could be 5.3 and b could be 14.7

or a could be pi and b could be 20-pi

 

What you know is that a+b=20    which means   b=20-a

 

You want the sum of their squares is  a^2 +b^2   but we have to replace b with  20-a

so

\(a^2+b^2\\ =a^2+(20-a)^2\\ =a^2+400+a^2-40a\\ =2a^2-40a+400\)

Melody  Sep 28, 2021
 #6
avatar+589 
+2

Oh ok, I understand now. Thank you. smiley

 Sep 29, 2021
 #7
avatar+118587 
0

You are welcome :)

Melody  Sep 29, 2021

4 Online Users

avatar