SOLUTION: Please help me solve this word problem of two linear equations in two unknowns....word problem: The sum of 2 numbers is 87. If twice the smaller number is subtracted from the la

Question 386368: Please help me solve this word problem of two linear equations in two unknowns....word problem:
The sum of 2 numbers is 87. If twice the smaller number is subtracted from the larger number, the result is 12. Find the two numbers.
I tried:
x+y=87
2x-y=12......this equation doesnt work for the answers....What am I doing wrong?
the answer is .....62 for the larger...25 for the smaller
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The sum of 2 numbers is 87. If twice the smaller number is subtracted from the larger number, the result is 12. Find the two numbers.
I tried:
x+y=87
2x-y=12......this equation doesnt work for the answers....What am I doing wrong?
the answer is .....62 for the larger...25 for the smaller
...
x+y =87
x-2y =12 ( this is the most common mistake of students)(2y is subtracted from x)
...
multiply first equation by -1
-x-y=-87
add it to second
-y-2y=-87+12
-3y=-75
/-3y

87-25=62

...
m.ananth@hotmail.ca
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