Try this solution: let the unknown two-digits number be 'xy'. Then it is possible to write any two-digit number as 10x+y, where x - the tens digit and y - the unit digit. Using the rule described above the phrase 'the tens digit of a number is twice the units digit' may be written as x=2y. Using the same rule the phrase 'if the digits are reversed, the new number is 36 is less than the original number' may be written as (10x+y)-(10y+x)=36. These two equations may be resolved as system of two equations: Check: the original number is 84, the new number is 48; difference is 84-48=36.