2 numbers can be represented by the variables x and y.
Set up a system of equations:


The two numbers added together will result in a sum of 33. However, one number subtracted from another will result in a difference of 1.
In both systems of equations, there are inverses of variable y. Therefore, we can combine the systems of equations by adding them together:


Divide both sides by 2 to get x by itself:

One of the numbers will be 17.
Plug the value into one of the equations:

Add y to both sides:

Subtract both sides by 1 to get y by itself:

The two numbers that sum up to 33, with a difference of 1 between them, will be 16 and 17.