X=11+1=12 hope I helped you
What is the question to answer?
Let's assume the opposite is the case. So let's assume that a = b is true. If so, then f(a) and f(b) would be the same output. This is because we can replace 'b' with 'a', or vice versa. In other words, f(a) = f(b) would be true. But this contradicts the original inequality that f(b) < f(a)
So that is why 'a' cannot equal b. We don't know if a > b or if a < b (unless we are told if the function is strictly decreasing or increasing on the interval from x = a to x = b), so we just leave it as 
Let the two numbers be x and y.
Given,
x + y = 23
x = 23 - y
Also given,
y = 2x - 1
y= 2(23 -y) -1
y = 46 - 2y - 1
3y = 45
y = 15
x = 23 - y = 23 - 15 = 8
Hence, the two numbers are 15 and 8.