Question

Thesumoftwopositivenumbersis16.whatisthesmallest possible value of the sum of their squares?

Answer 1

X+y=16
the sum of the squares is
x^2+y^2=sum

solve for y in first equation
x+y=16
y=16-x
subsitiute that for y in other equation

x^2+(16-x)^2=sum
x^2+x^2-32x+256=sum
2x^2-32x+256=sum
take derivitive to find the minimum value (or just find the vertex because the parabola opens up)
derivitive is
4x-32=derivitve of sum
the max/min is where the derivitive equals 0
4x-32=0
4x=32
x=8

at x=8
so then y=16-8=8

the smallest value then is 8^2+8^2=64+64=128