Solving a Simple Algebra Problem: x+y=60, x2=0.25, y2 - Find x and y

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To solve the equations x + y = 60 and x² = 0.25, first express y in terms of x using y = 60 - x. Substitute this expression into the second equation to form a quadratic equation. Solving this quadratic will yield the values for x and subsequently for y. The discussion emphasizes that there is a theoretical solution since there are two equations with two unknowns. This method is a standard approach for solving such algebraic problems.
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x+y=60

x2 = 0.25
y2

find x and y

it's part of a massive physics question, and i'll post the whole thing and my workings so far if it turns out that this maths question is impossible.
 
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You have two equations in two unknowns, so in theory there is a solution.

I suggest using the first equation to express y in x (i.e. rewrite x+y=60 to y=60-x), then plug that into the second one and solve the resulting quadratic equation for x.
 

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