The sum of the squares of two consecutive positive numbers is 85. What is the smaller number?

Question

anonymous · Answer

try $3^2+4^2$ and if that is too small, try $4^2+5^2$ or $5^2+6^2$

anonymous · Answer

@ParthKohli sum of squares

anonymous · Answer

Let one number be: x
Next number will be: (x + 1)

So,
$$x^2 + (x +1)^2 = 85$$


$$(a + b)^2 = a^2 + b^2 + 2ab$$

Use this formula to solve this above equation...

anonymous · Answer

@sabimaru sum of squares

parthkohli · Answer

Thanks.. will get my eyes checked

parthkohli · Answer

Thing is that the next time I'd go there in October

anonymous · Answer

$$6^2+7^2=85$$ why will no one guess and check? it take like 5 seconds with a calculator

anonymous · Answer

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6^2%2B7^2

parthkohli · Answer

@calculator73 okay