Question 660300: The difference of two numbers is subtracted from their sum. What can be said about the answer? Found 2 solutions by kevwill, math-vortex:Answer by kevwill(135) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let x and y be the two numbers. There are two cases: (1) we subtract y from x to get the difference (y is the minuend and x is the subtrahend), and (2) we subtract x from y to get the difference (x is the minuend and y is the subtrahend).
In the first case:
n = (x+y) - (x-y)
n = x + y - x + y
n = 2y
In the second case:
n = (x+y) - (y-x)
n = x + y - y + x
n = 2x
So we can say that the answer is twice the the number we choose for the subtrahend when we find the difference of the two numbers.
Hi, there---
The Problem:
The difference of two numbers is subtracted from their sum. What can be said about the
answer?
Solution:
Let n be larger number.
Let m be the smaller number.
Their difference is n-m.
Their sum is n+m.
Subtract the difference of the two numbers from their sum:
n + m - (n - m) = n + m - n + m = 2m
In the context of this problem, 2m means "twice the smaller number." When we find the
positive difference between two numbers (larger minus smaller) and subtract it from the sum
of the numbers, the answer will always be twice the larger number.
Mrs. Figgy
math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com
