Given,
a+b+c=9 and ab+bc+ca=26 …..(i)
Now,
a + b + c = 9
On squaring both sides, we get,
(a+b+c)2=(9)2
⇒ a2+b2+c2+2ab+2bc+2ca=81
[Using the identity, (a+b+c)2=a2+b2+c2+2ab+2bc+2ca]
⇒ a2+b2+c2+2(ab+bc+ca)=81
⇒ a2+b2+c2+2(26)=81 [from eq.(i)]
⇒ a2+b2+c2=81–52=29