Bunuel
The number 95 can be written as the sum of the squares of 4 different positive integers in two ways. Of the following, which can be the sum of these 4 integers?
(A) 9
(B) 10
(C) 15
(D) 18
(E) 20
Hi,
I will give you two ways..
1)
CHOICESEASY, if you understand properties of numbers and apply them correctly....
CRITICAL info - Since the SUM of squares of these 4 integers is ODD, the SUM of these numbers will also be ODD..ONLY 9 and 15 are ODD in choices...
The minimum SUM of 4 different positive integers = 1+2+3+4 = 10
so SUM>9....
ONLY 15 left
ans C
2) the biggest possible integer in these four integer will be 9 , as 10^2 goes above 95...
\(1^2 = 1.................2^2 = 4................3^2 = 9...................4^2 =16......................5^2 = 25...............6^2=36.............7^2= 49.............8^2=64..............9^2 = 81...\)
Since SUM is ODD, try combinations of 3 odd numbers and 1 even. OR 3 even and 1 odd......
now we can try some combinations and we will get our answer after some tries...