Question

One number is four less than a second number. Four times the first is 14 more than 5 times the second. Find the numbers.

Answer 1

Answer:

First number is 6

Second number is 2

Step-by-step explanation:

The trick is that we need to set up two equations. Nor simplicity's sake I'm going to say the first number is x and the second number is y.

First we know that the first number (x) is 4 less than the second number (y).

Less means subtraction.

x-4=y

Then we know that 4 times x is 14 more than 5 times the second. More is addition and times is multiplication.

4x=14+5y

Now we use substitution to find out what x (the first number) is, subbing x-4 in for y.

4x=14+5(x-4)

4x=14+5x-20

-x=-6

x=6

First number is 6

Lastly, we sub 6 back into one of the equations. It's easier to us the first equation.

x-4=y

6-4=y

2=y

The second number is 2