document.write( "Question 1156198: The sum of two numbers is 23.The greater number is 4 less than 2 times the smaller number.What are the two numbers? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #778881 by alanc(27)\"\" \"About 
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Translate this word problem into an equation.
\n" ); document.write( "Let the letter a = the greater number.
\n" ); document.write( "let b = the smaller number.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We see a + b = 23
\n" ); document.write( "Also
\n" ); document.write( "a = 2b - 4
\n" ); document.write( "We have a system of 2 equations in 2 variables.
\n" ); document.write( "Let us use substitution.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2b - 4) + b = 23
\n" ); document.write( "3b - 4 = 23
\n" ); document.write( "3b - 4 + 4 = 23 + 4
\n" ); document.write( "3b = 27
\n" ); document.write( "3b / 3 = 27 / 3
\n" ); document.write( "b = 9
\n" ); document.write( "So...
\n" ); document.write( "a = 2*9 - 4
\n" ); document.write( "a = 18 - 4 = 14\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The two numbers are 14 and 9
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