SOLUTION: Hello, I am stuck on one of the problems I have to resolve. Please help me understand step by step what needs to be done. Problem: "One number is 10 times as large as anot

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Question 444503: Hello,
I am stuck on one of the problems I have to resolve. Please help me understand step by step what needs to be done.
Problem:
"One number is 10 times as large as another, and their difference is 81. Find the numbers."
I have always had a hard time understanding these types of problems. Please help me understand so I can solve them in the future problems as well.

Thank you!!!!
Maria P.
Found 2 solutions by rwm, chriswen:
Answer by rwm(914) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You spent a lot of time and effort telling us how hard the problem is and no time nor effort in trying to solve it.
What do you think is the first step? or any step?
What shall we call the missing number?
and what about the second number?
How would we say "10 times the number" in math talk?
What does "their difference is 81" suggest?
Math is just another language.
You learned texting language easily. You just have to learn how to talk in math.

Answer by chriswen(106) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x be the smaller number.
Let 10x be the larger number (as it is 10 times as large as the other number).
...
10x-x=81 ...(The difference of the two numbers is 81)
9x=81
x=81/9
x=9 ... (smaller number)
10x=90 ... (larger number)
...
Therefore, the two numbers are 9 and 90.
I hope that helps you understand these types of problems.