Quick question: x^2-y^2=16 (find x)

[berkeman]

After a *lot* of cleanup and reminding some posters not to post answers to homework questions at the PF, the thread is re-opened. The OP may have what she needs for her homework, or she may have clarifying questions still.

 

[Kaura]

i couldn't find my other response but is it because the plus sign is there that we can't distribute the squared (x+y)^2 into x^2+y^2?

Suppose we have a square with side length a+b then the area would be (a+b)²
In this high quality graphic suppose that the red part of the side length is a and the blue is b
What would the total area be?