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Find two natural numbers which differ by 3, such that the sum of their squares is 117.

User Teun Pronk
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From the question we are to find two natural numbers which differ by 3, such that the sum of their squares is 117.

Let the numbers b x and y

Given that:

x - y = 3 ......................... eqn I

x² + y² = 117 .................. eqn II

From eqn I: x - y = 3

Squaring both sides:

(x - y)² = 3²

(x - y)² = 9

x² + b² - 2xy = 9

substitute the value of x² + y² from eqn II in eqn I

117 - 2xy = 9

2xy = 108

divide both sides by 2

xy = 108/2

xy = 54 .......................... eqn III

divide both sides by a

y = 54/x

substitute the above value of y in eqn I:

x - 54/x = 3

x² - 54 = 3x

x² - 3x - 54 = 0

solving the quadratic:

x = -(-3) ± √(-3)² - 4 * 1 * (-54)

2 * 1

x = √(-3)² - 4 * 1 * (-54) = 15

x = -(-3) ± 15

2 * 1

x = 9, -6

but -6 is not a solution because it is given that they are natural numbers:

So, x = 9

inputting x = 9 in eqn I

x - y = 3

9 - y = 3

y = 9 - 3

y = 6

So,

x = 9

y = 6

Therefore, the two natural numbers are: 9 & 6.

User Shantanu Shinde
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