Question

The sum of two numbers is 54. The smaller number is 18 less than the larger number. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

Answer:

The larger number is 37.  This makes the smaller number 56 - 37, which is 19.

Step-by-step explanation:

 

The first step is to pick variables for the two numbers.  Lets call the smaller number x and the larger number y.

Since the sum of the two numbers is 56, this means that x + y = 56.  Let's call this equation 1 and save it for later.

 

The next sentence says:

The smaller number is 18 less than the larger number.  So, 18 less than the larger number would be y - 18.  So, the smaller number must be equal to this, so

 

x = y - 18

 

Replace the x in equation 1 with y - 18

 

x + y = 56

(y-18) + y = 56   (replace x with y-18)

2y - 18 = 56        (add the y's)

2y = 74               (add 18 to both sides)

y = 37                 (divide both sides by 2)

 

So, the larger number is 37.  This makes the smaller number 56 - 37, which is 19.

 

Hope this helps!!  :)