Question

$$y=a^{2}+b^{2}$$

Solve for a

$a=\sqrt{y-b^{2}}$
$a=-\sqrt{y-b^{2}}\text{, }y\geq b^{2}$

Solve for b

$b=\sqrt{y-a^{2}}$
$b=-\sqrt{y-a^{2}}\text{, }y\geq a^{2}$