Question

A number is 2/3 of another number. if the sum of the two numbers is 30, find the smaller number.

Answer 1

Answer: The numbers are 4 and 6.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let one number be represented as

x

and the other as

y

.

According to the problem:

x

=

2

3

y

and

x

+

y

=

10

From the second equation we get:

x

+

y

=

10

∴

y

=

10

−

x

(subtracting

x

from both sides)

Replacing the value of

y

in the first equation we get:

x

=

2

3

y

x

=

2

3

(

10

−

x

)

Multiplying both sides by

3

we get:

3

x

=

2

(

10

−

x

)

Opening the brackets and simplifying we get:

3

x

=

20

−

2

x

Add

2

x

to both sides.

5

x

=

20

Divide both sides by

5

.

x

=

4

Since from the second equation we have:

x

+

y

=

10

substituting

x

with

4

we get:

4

+

y

=

10

Subtract

4

from both sides.

y

=

6