Question 1121419
x and y are the numbers
x^2+y^2=120
xy=24
x=24/y; substitute
576/y^2+y^2=120
multiply through by y^2
y^4-120y^2+576=0
y^2=(1/2)(120+/-sqrt(120^2-2304)); sqrt term=109.99
y^2=(1/2)(229.99) or 115 and y^2=(1/2)(10.01) or 5
y=sqrt (115) or 10.72 x=sqrt(5) or 2.24
to three decimal places, 
x=2.237
y=10.723
product 23.987
sum of squares 119.987
Their difference is 8.486