document.write( "Question 758461: the difference between two numbers is eight. If the smaller number exceeds half of the larger number by fourteen, what are the numbers? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #461482 by Theo(13342)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! let a represent the larger number \n" ); document.write( "let b represent the smaller number\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "formulas become:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "a - b = 8 (difference between the numbers is 8). \n" ); document.write( "b > (a/2) + 14 (smaller numbrer exceeds 1/2 * bigger number by 14) \n" ); document.write( "solve for b in the first equationj to get b = a - 8 \n" ); document.write( "substitute for b in the second equation to get: \n" ); document.write( "a - 8 > (a/2) + 14 \n" ); document.write( "multiply both sides of this equationm by 2 to get: \n" ); document.write( "2a - 16 > a + 28 \n" ); document.write( "subtract a from both sides of this equation and add 16 to both sides of this equation to get: \n" ); document.write( "2a - a > 28 + 16 \n" ); document.write( "simplify to get: \n" ); document.write( "a > 44 \n" ); document.write( "when a > 44, both equations will be satisfied. \n" ); document.write( "as an example, let a = 50 \n" ); document.write( "when a = 50, 50 - b = 8 which makes b = 42 \n" ); document.write( "you have a 50 and b = 42 \n" ); document.write( "first equation is satisfied because 50 - 42 = 8 \n" ); document.write( "second equation becomes: \n" ); document.write( "42 > (50/2) + 14 which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "42 > 25 + 14 which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "42 > 39 which is true so the second equation is satisfied as well. \n" ); document.write( "since both equations are satisfied, your answer is a > 44. \n" ); document.write( "you can also confirm by making a = 44 and a < 44 and seeing that the equation is not satisfied. \n" ); document.write( "for example: \n" ); document.write( "let a = 44 \n" ); document.write( "this makes b = 36 \n" ); document.write( "first equation is satisfied because 44 - 36 = 8 \n" ); document.write( "second equation becomes: \n" ); document.write( "36 > (44/2) + 14 which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "36 > 22 + 14 which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "36 > 36 which is NOT true because 36 = 36. \n" ); document.write( "when a < 44, you will get similar results. \n" ); document.write( "for example: \n" ); document.write( "let a = 40 \n" ); document.write( "this makes b = 32 \n" ); document.write( "first equation is satisfied because 40 - 32 = 8 \n" ); document.write( "second equation becomes: \n" ); document.write( "32 > (40/2) + 14 which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "32 > 20 + 14 which becomes: \n" ); document.write( "32 > 34 which is not true because 32 < 34. \n" ); document.write( "the solution of a > 44 is good because: \n" ); document.write( "when a > 44 both equations are satisfied. \n" ); document.write( "when a <= 44 both equations are not satisfied.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |