JAMB 2001 · UME · Q10

Solve the equations $m^2 + n^2 = 29$ and $m + n = 7$ .

Worked solution (try it first)

Square the sum: $(m + n)^2 = m^2 + n^2 + 2mn$ , so $49 = 29 + 2mn$ .
So $2mn = 20$ and $mn = 10$ .
Two numbers that add to 7 and multiply to 10 are 2 and 5.
So $(m, n) = (2, 5)$ or $(5, 2)$ , option D.

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