I need some help with this question.
Two whole numbers differ by 3. The sum of their squares is 89. What are the numbers.

O man... I feel so stupid that I can't solve this in the quadratic method... something is wrong with me... but I know the answer to the question... a simple square table will solve it, but that's not the quadratic method... sorry...

If someone knows the method, please tell me too... I feel so dumb and this is going to keep me up at night... :(

They differ by 3: x-y=3

The sum of their squares is 89: x^{2}+y^{2}=89

Now, solve the first one for x or y and sub into the second. You have your quadratic.

x^2 + (x + 3)^2 = 89
2x^2 + 6x - 80 = 0
(2x - 10)(x + 8) = 0
2x - 10 = 0 or x + 8 = 0
x = 5 or -8
The numbers are 5 and 8 or -8 and -5.