<PRE><B>Question 1065509</B>
(a-b)^2 = 5
:
take square root of both sides
:
1) a - b = square root(5)
:
2) ab = 1
:
solve equation 2 for a
:
a = 1/b
:
substitute for a in equation 1
:
(1/b) - b = square root(5)
:
b^2 +square root(5)b -1 = 0
: 
use quadratic formula to find b
:
b = (-square root(5) + square root(5 + 4)) / 2 = (3 - square root(5)) / 2 = 0.382
:
a = 1 / ((3 - square root(5)) / 2) = 2 / (3 - square root(5)) = 2.618
:
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a + b = 0.382 + 2.618 = 3
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:
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