document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=501144>Question 501144</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> well there is this math word problem that i do not not understand. The word problem is this:The sum of two numbers is 8 less than twice the first number. Their difference is 4 less than twice the second number. What is the larger number? I have no idea. Can you please explain how to get put this question into mathematical terms and how to solve to get the right answer. Thank you, please answer back as soon as possible. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #338444 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><B>josmiceli(19441)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=josmiceli><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=338444\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Call the 1st number <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Call the 2nd number <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "given:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+a+%2B+b+=+2a+-+8+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+a+%2B+b+=+2a+-+8+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > ( The sum of two numbers is 8 less than twice the first number )<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+a+-+b+=+2b+-+4+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+a+-+b+=+2b+-+4+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > ( Their difference is 4 less than twice the second number )<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Two or more equations is called a \"system\" of equations.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In order to solve, the number of equations has to equal <BR>\n" );
document.write( "the number of unknowns. You have 2 equations and<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2 unknowns, so it's solvable.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+a+%2B+b+=+2a+-+8+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+a+%2B+b+=+2a+-+8+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtract <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+2a+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+2a+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > from both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+b+-+a+=+-8+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+b+-+a+=+-8+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+a+-+b+=+2b+-+4+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+a+-+b+=+2b+-+4+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Adding (1) and (2),<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+0+=+-8+%2B+2b+-+4+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+0+=+-8+%2B+2b+-+4+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+12+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+12+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+2b+=+8+%2B+4+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+2b+=+8+%2B+4+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+2b+=+12+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+2b+=+12+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+b+=+6+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+b+=+6+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and, since,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+b+-+a+=+-8+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+b+-+a+=+-8+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+6+-+a+=+-8+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+6+-+a+=+-8+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+14+-+a+=+0+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+14+-+a+=+0+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+a+=+14+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+a+=+14+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The numbers are 14 and 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Note that for equation (2), if I had said<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+b+-+a+=+2b+-+4+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+b+-+a+=+2b+-+4+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, I end up with negative answers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so I avoided that. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );