74=x+y is the equation at the beginning we will say that x is the smaller number and y is the larger one. Now we substitute the larger number (y) for 26+2x. Plug that into the beginning equation to get 74= x+ 26+2x. Now solve. 74=3x+26 48=3x 16=x So we know that our smaller number is 16. To find the larger number we plug the value of the smaller number into the equation for the larger number like this. y=26+2x y=26+2(16) y=26+32 y=58. So to check our answer we can plug in both values into the beginning equation. 74=58+16 74=74. So to sum this up the smaller number is 16 and the larger number is 58.
