Question 684595
 If you add the square of tom's age to the age of carol, the sum is 62;
 but if you add the square of Carol's age to the age of Tom, the result is 176.
 Determine the age of tom and carol.
:
Here is a situation where graphing would be the easiest way to solve this
Let x = Carols age
Let y = Tom's age
:
Write a slope intercept equation for each
x^2 + y = 176
y = 176 - x^3
and
x + y^2 = 62
y = {{{sqrt(62-x)}}}
:
Plot these two equation, find the intersect
{{{ graph( 300, 200, -6, 20, -5, 10, 176-x^2, sqrt(62-x)) }}}
we expect to be dealing with integers here, therefore we can see
x = 13, y = 7
:
Tom is 7, Carol is 13