document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=991706>Question 991706</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the sum of two numbers is 71. if three times the smaller number is subtracted from the larger number, the result is 3. find the two numbers </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #611519 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=addingup><B>addingup(3677)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=addingup><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=addingup><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=611519\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> a+b=71, therefore a=71-b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b-3a=3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b-3(71-b)=3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b-213-3b= 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-2b= -210<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b= -210/-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b= 105 Now go back to the original formula:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a+105= 71<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a= 71-105<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a= -34 This is b. Let's try it in the problem. It says that the sum is 71:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "105+(-34)= 71\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now the problem says, if three times the smaller number is subtracted from the larger number, the result is 3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3*34= 102; 105-102= 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We've got the right answers. </SPAN>\n" );
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