Hard math question from real test

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<p>The answers E. However (a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2, which has to be greater than 400 since a^2 + b^2 = 400. Thats really the only part I dont get</p>

2

<p>how does your answer conflict with E)…?</p>

3

<p>Yes your reading the signs wrong. Its is greater than 400 according to that equation.</p>

4

<p>None of the other answers make sense. So E is right</p>

5

<p>E is true for any value you put in for a and b. True, 400 cannot be equal to (a+b)^2, but the inequality is TRUE because it includes the set “400 < (a+b)^2” in itself.</p>

<p>So if x could be 3, 4, or 5, you could say that x is greater than 1 even though x can’t be 2 because the inequality is true ABOUT the given 2, 3, 4… all 3 of these numbers are greater than 1!</p>