Question 604787
Number Sense: The sum of two number is six. The sum of the squares of the two numbers is twenty. Find the two numbers. 
a + b = 6
a^2 + b^2 = 20 
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You set up correctly. I will just continue where you left off.
a+b=6
a=(6-b)
sub(6-b) for a in second equation
(6-b)^2 + b^2 = 20
36-12b+b^2+b^2=20
2b^2-12b+16=0
b^2-6b+8=0
(b-4)(b-2)=0
b=4
a=6-b=2
or b=2
a=6-b=4
curves intersect at (4,2) and (2,4)