SOLUTION: One number is 9 more than 3 times another. If their sum is 53, what is the smaller number?

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Question 156027: One number is 9 more than 3 times another. If their sum is 53, what is the smaller number?
Answer by orca(409) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x be the smaller number.
Then the larger one is 3x + 9.
As their sum is 53, we have
x + 3x + 9 = 53
Solving for x, we have
4x + 9 = 53
4x = 44
x = 11
So the smaller number is 11.