You can put this solution on YOUR website! The sum of the squares of two consecutive positive numbers is 61.
what is the smaller number?
.
Let x = smaller number
then
x+1 = larger consecutive number
.
x^2 + (x+1)^2 = 61
x^2 + (x+1)(x+1) = 61
x^2 + (x^2+2x+1) = 61
2x^2+2x+1 = 61
2x^2+2x-60 = 0
x^2+x-30 = 0
(x+6)(x-5) = 0
x = {-6, 5}
Toss out the negative solution leaving:
x = 5
