document.write( "Question 257442: The average of a and b is x. The average of b and x equals the average of a and (b + 1). Find a−b. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #189364 by nerdybill(7384)\"\" \"About 
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The average of a and b is x. The average of b and x equals the average of a and (b + 1). Find a−b.
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\n" ); document.write( "From:\"The average of a and b is x.\" we get:
\n" ); document.write( "(a+b)/2 = x
\n" ); document.write( "From:\"The average of b and x equals the average of a and (b + 1)\" we get:
\n" ); document.write( "(b+x)/2 = (a+b+1)/2
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\n" ); document.write( "(b+(a+b)/2)/2 = (a+b+1)/2
\n" ); document.write( "(b+(a+b))/2 = a+b+1
\n" ); document.write( "(b+a+b)/2 = a+b+1
\n" ); document.write( "(2b+a)/2 = a+b+1
\n" ); document.write( "2b+a = 2a+2b+2
\n" ); document.write( "a = 2a+2
\n" ); document.write( "-2 = a
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\n" ); document.write( "(a+b)/2 = x
\n" ); document.write( "(-2+b)/2 = x
\n" ); document.write( "-2+b = 2x
\n" ); document.write( "b = 2x+2
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\n" ); document.write( "Therefore,
\n" ); document.write( "a-b = -2 - (2x+2)
\n" ); document.write( "a-b = -2 - 2x-2
\n" ); document.write( "a-b = -4-2x\r
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