x + y = 38...because the sum of the numbers is 38 x = 2y - 10....larger one is 10 less then twice the smaller
now we will sub in 2y - 10 for x back into the first equation x + y = 38 2y - 10 + y = 38 3y - 10 = 38...add 10 to both sides 3y = 38 + 10 3y = 48 ...divide both sides by 3 y = 48/3 y = 16
now sub 16 in for y back into either of the original equations and find x x = 2y - 10 x = 2(16) - 10 x = 32 - 10 x = 22