SOLUTION: How would you find 2 positive numbers that differ by 2 and have a product of 20? I dont know how to set up the equation in this instance.

Question 151436: How would you find 2 positive numbers that differ by 2 and have a product of 20? I dont know how to set up the equation in this instance.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"2 positive numbers that differ by 2" translates to and "have a product of 20" translates to

Start with the first equation.

Add to both sides.

Subtract 2 from both sides.

So after isolating "y", we get

Move onto the second equation

Plug in

Distribute.

Subtract 20 from both sides.

Notice we have a quadratic equation in the form of where , , and

Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x

Start with the quadratic formula

Plug in , , and

Negate to get .

Square to get .

Multiply to get

Rewrite as

Add to to get

Multiply and to get .

Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying square roots, check out this solver)

Break up the fraction.

Reduce.

or Break up the expression.

So the values of x are or

which approximate to or

Go back to the first isolated equation

Plug in

Combine like terms.

So the first pair of numbers is and

-------------------------

Go back to the first isolated equation

Plug in

Combine like terms.

So the next pair of numbers is and
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