document.write( "Question 38266: The difference of two numbers is 45. The second is 3 less than 3 times the first. What are the two numbers? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #23758 by fractalier(6550)\"\" \"About 
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Let's call our two numbers x and y. From the facts in the problem, we have
\n" ); document.write( "x - y = 45 and
\n" ); document.write( "y = 3x - 3
\n" ); document.write( "Substituting this into the first equation we have
\n" ); document.write( "x - (3x - 3) = 45
\n" ); document.write( "-2x + 3 = 45
\n" ); document.write( "-2x = 42
\n" ); document.write( "x = -21
\n" ); document.write( "Then we can find y by
\n" ); document.write( "y = 3(-21) - 3
\n" ); document.write( "y = -66 \n" ); document.write( "
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