SOLUTION: The difference of two numbers is 89. One number is six less than triple the other. What are the two numbers? Thanking you for your help in advance.

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Question 577271: The difference of two numbers is 89. One number is six less than triple the other. What are the two numbers?
Thanking you for your help in advance.

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the numbers be a and b
(1) +a+-+b+=+89+
Just looking at this +a+ has to be bigger than +b+
(2) +a+=+3b+-+6+
This goes along with +a+ being bigger than b+
---------------
Rewrite (2)
(2) +a+-+3b+=+-6+
Subtract (2) from (1)
( change the signs of (2) and add )
(1) +a+-+b+=+89+
(2) +-a+%2B+3b+=+6+
+2b+=+95+
+b+=+95%2F2+
This didn't work out. What I probably did wrong was
the writing of equation (2). I'll exchange a and
b and see if that works
(2) +b+=+3a+-+6+
(2) +3a+-+b+=+6+
I'll subtract this from (1)
(1) +a+-+b+=+89+
(2) +-3a+%2B+b+=+-6+
+-2a+=+83++
+a+=+-%28+83%2F2+%29+
I can't solve this. Are you sure you
copied it right?