Question 678282: The sum of two numbers is 72, and twice their difference is 24. What is the smaller of the two munbers?
30
48
42
24 Answer by rm29924(97) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The answer is 30.
let x=the larger number
let y= the smaller number
x+y=72
2(x-y)=24
Take the first equation and get x by itself.
x+y=72
x=72-y
Then plug in that value for x in the second equation.
2(72-y-y)=24
144-2y-2y=24
144-4y=24
-4y=-120
y=30
