Let x and y equal our two numbers, then add them and set them equal to 27 x+y=27 Pick a variable to represent your larger number, then make an equation for it y=2x+6 Substitute your equation for that variable back into the original equation so you get everything in terms of one variable. x+2x+6=27 Solve! 3x+6=27 3x=21 x=7 Plug x back into the equation: 7+y=21 y=14