You can put this solution on YOUR website! Two numbers total 78 and have a difference of 6. I presume that you want to know what the two numbers are.
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Let
x = the first number
y = the second number
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The sum of the two numbers is 78. Using algebra, we write the equation,
x + y = 78
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The difference between the number is 6. Using algebra, we write,
x - y = 6
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Now we have a system of two equations in two variables. The system lends itself nicely to solving by elimination. Add the two equations together.
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x + y = 78
x - y = 6
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2x + 0 = 84
x = 42
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Now we know that the first number is 42. Since the difference between the two numbers is 6, the second number is 42 - 6 = 36.
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The sum of 42 and 36 is 78, so these are our two numbers.
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I solved this using a system of linear equations. You can also solve it by writing an expression for the 2nd number in terms of x.
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Let
x = 1st number
x - 6 = 2nd number
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The sum of the two numbers is 78, so
x + (x-6) = 78
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Now solve for x, and proceed as I did above.
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hope this helps!
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Ms.Figgy
math.in.the.vortex
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