If j and k are integers, j>k, and j^2 + k^2= 25, what is the least possible value of j?

Question

how do you get to the answer, which is -3?

Answer 1

Find all the pairs of integers that solve the equation j² + k²⁼ 25:

 

0, 5

0, -5

3, 4

3, -4

-3, 4

-3, -4

 

Then write them in the order of lower number, higher number:

 

0, 5

-5, 0

3, 4

-4, 3

-3, 4

-4, -3

 

Since j>k, j has to be the larger of the two numbers.  So in all the pairs I wrote in the second list, which is the smallest value for the second number?  It's -3.