SOLUTION: HI! I cant fiqure this one. Im pretty bad in math I hope you can solve my problem if not I can understand. question: The sum of the whole is 14 The large and small are different b

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Question 1125954: HI! I cant fiqure this one. Im pretty bad in math I hope you can solve my problem if not I can understand. question: The sum of the whole is 14 The large and small are different by 1 and The first is equal to second. I was wondering if the answer comes out to 2 numbers or three. Thank you
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, greenestamps:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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The sum of the whole is 14 The large and small are different by 1 and The first is equal to second.
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This is assuming just two numbers make the "whole":

Two numbers x and y.
Assume x%3Cy.

system%28x%2By=14%2Cy-x=1%29
-
system%28x%2By=14%2C-x%2By=1%29

x%2By%2B%28-x%29%2By=15
2y=15
highlight%28y=7%261%2F2%29, highlight%28x=6%261%2F2%29

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


It's no surprise you can't figure this out. The presentation is not at all clear.

"the sum of the whole is 14": we don't know if there are 2 numbers, or 3, or maybe 10....

"the large and the small differ by 1": there are at least 2 numbers

"the first is equal to the second": there are two numbers (at least) that are the same; and that means there are at least three numbers all together

So from the given information we know that there are at least three numbers. But there is nothing in the statement of the problem that precludes the possibility that there are more than three numbers.

And if there are in fact supposed to be three numbers, we don't know how "first" and "second" relate to "large" and "small".

With the sloppy -- and apparently intentionally vague -- way the problem is presented, I would consider it not worthy of any attempt to solve it.