document.write( "Question 830229: a number minus twice another number is 4. Three times the first number plus two times the second number is 12. What are the numbers? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #500429 by JulietG(1812)\"\" \"About 
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Let x be the first number, and y be the second number.
\n" ); document.write( "Here is the information that the question gives us:
\n" ); document.write( "x - 2y = 4 (a number minus twice another number is 4)
\n" ); document.write( "3x + 2y = 12 (three times the first number plus two times the second number is 12)
\n" ); document.write( "Add these together:
\n" ); document.write( "(x+3x) (-2y+2y cancel each other out) = 16
\n" ); document.write( "Add the Xs
\n" ); document.write( "4x = 16
\n" ); document.write( "Divide each side by 4
\n" ); document.write( "x = 4
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "If we know that x is 4, then we can use the information given to find y.
\n" ); document.write( "x (which is 4) - y = 4
\n" ); document.write( "4 - y = 4
\n" ); document.write( "y is therefore 0
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Plug it in to prove it.
\n" ); document.write( "Three times the first number (3*4) + two times the second number (2*0) = 12
\n" ); document.write( "12 + 0 = 12
\n" ); document.write( ".
\n" ); document.write( "Tricky because of the 0. It misleads your thinking :-). \n" ); document.write( "
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