Question

PLEASE HELP!!!!!
"For both of column A and B, "a" and "b" are nonzero integers:"

Column A: (a+b)^2
Column B: (a^2 + b^2)

Please explain why the answer is: "The relationship cannot be determined from the information given."

Thanks! =)

Answer 1

Alright, what are we suppose to find, integers a & b?

Answer 2

Those are given information, but what's the actual question about those two columns?

Answer 3

Sorry, I guess I should have put this: "Please explain why the answer for both columns is: "The relationship cannot be determined from the information given."

Answer 4

The question just wants you to figure out the relationships between Column A and Column B.

Answer 5

I tried plugging numbers in for "a" and "b", and the answer seemed to be that the quantity in Column A was greater, but maybe it's only greater for some values?

Answer 6

If we expand out the expression for column A, we get:
a^2 + 2ab + b^2
This has all the same terms as the second column, but then the extra 2ab.

Now, when a and b are both greater than 0, column A is always greater than column B because 2ab is always positive, so it's always going to have an extra bit added to it.
If a or b is negative and the other positive, then the "2ab" becomes a subtraction and so column A is now becoming less than column B.
Then lastly, if both a and b are negative, then "2ab" is still positive and column A is once again greater than column B.

Answer 7

Aha! That makes tons of sense! Thank you so much! I REALLY, REALLY appreciate it! :)

Answer 8

You're welcome. :)