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If x-y=4, x^2+y^2=5, what is x^3-y^3?

User Arran Duff
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Final answer:

To find x^3-y^3 while given x-y=4 and x^2+y^2=5, we used the system of equations and algebraic identities. After deriving xy=11/2 by manipulating the given equations, we used the identity for the difference of cubes to find the final solution, which is x^3-y^3=42.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the value of x^3-y^3 given that x-y=4 and x^2+y^2=5, we will use the system of equations and algebraic identities. First, by adding the two equations, we get (x+y)2, as:

(x+y)2 = x2+2xy+y2 = (x2+y2) + 2xy

5 + 2xy = (x+y)2

We have x-y=4, hence (x+y) can be expressed in terms of x:

x+y = x-(x-4) = 4

Thus, (4)2 = 5 + 2xy

16 = 5 + 2xy

2xy = 11

xy = 11/2

Now we use the identity x^3-y^3 = (x-y)(x2+xy+y2):

x^3-y^3 = 4(x2+xy+y2)

Finally, substituting the known values:

x^3-y^3 = 4(5 + 11/2)

x^3-y^3 = 4(10 + 11)/2

x^3-y^3 = 42

User Andrey Khataev
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