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Question 542860: one number is 2 less than another. if 4 times the larger is subtracted from 5 times the smaller, the result is 10. find the numbers.
I am having a lot of trouble with word problems.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! let a = one number
let b = the other number
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Just write an equation for each statement:
:
"one number is 2 less than another."
a = b - 2
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"if 4 times the larger is subtracted from 5 times the smaller, the result is 10."
5a - 4b = 10
From the 1st statement, a = (b-2), replace a with (b-2) in the above equation
5(b-2) - 4b = 10
5b - 10 - 4b = 10
Combine like terms
5b - 4b = 10 + 10
b = 20
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If b = 20, we know that a = 18, right?
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Check these solutions in the statement;
4 times the larger is subtracted from 5 times the smaller, the result is 10."
5(18) - 4(20) =
90 - 80 = 10, so our solutions are correct.
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Apply this method to all word problems where they are dealing in numbers like this.
find the numbers.
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