document.write( "Question 351406: \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #251095 by NRobinson(4) ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Q:The sum of two numbers is 38 and their difference is 26 more than the smaller one. What are the two numbers?\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "A: You will want to translate the english version of this problem into algebra. Start with the first part of the first sentence: The sum of two numbers is 38. \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We know that SUM is ADDITION, so this meas two numbers added together equal (IS) 38. So if the smaller number is x and the larger is y, then \n" ); document.write( " x + y = 38.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now, the second part of the sentence, their difference is 26 more than the smaller one. The DIFFERENCE means subtraction. We subtract the two unknowns, y - x since x was the smaller. This is equal to 26 more than the smaller. MORE THAN means addition (x + 26). So now we can build a second equation, \n" ); document.write( "y - x = x + 26.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Depending on what level of mathematics you are in you can solve using two variables or substituting 38-x for y in the second equation and then using just one equation and one variable. \r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x + y = 38 & y - x = x + 26:list both equations \n" ); document.write( "y = 38 - x & y = 2x + 26: solve for y \n" ); document.write( "38 - x = 2x + 26:substitute for y since both equations are equal to y \n" ); document.write( "12 = 3x: subtract 26 from both sides and add x to both sides \n" ); document.write( "4 = x:divide by 3 \n" ); document.write( "y = 38 - x :go back to your first equation \n" ); document.write( "y = 38 - 4 :substitute x=4 \n" ); document.write( "y = 34 :subtracct\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Double check: y - x = x + 26 \n" ); document.write( "y = 34, x = 4 \n" ); document.write( "34 - 4 ?=? 4 + 26 \n" ); document.write( "30 = 30\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the correct solution are the numbers 4 and 34 just as you had found. \n" ); document.write( " |