SOLUTION: How to solve: The sum of two numbers is 76 and their difference is 52. Find the numbers

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Question 868335: How to solve: The sum of two numbers is 76 and their difference is 52. Find the numbers
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x and y be the two unknown numbers. Let's make x the larger number. So x > y.


"The sum of two numbers is 76" means that when you add them together, you get 76, so x%2By=76


"their difference is 52" means that when you subtract them, you get 52, so x-y=52


The system of equations is


system%28x%2By=76%2Cx-y=52%29


We'll use this system to solve for x and y.


Start by adding the equations (add the left sides separately and the right sides separately)

x  +  y = 76
x  -  y = 52
--------------
2x + 0y = 128



So that means 2x = 128 and isolating x (divide both sides by 2) gives us x = 64


Now we use x = 64 to find y. So we pick on any equation that has both x & y in it, plug in x = 64 and solve for y. I'm going to pick the first equation.


x+y=76


64+y=76


y=76-64


y=12


=======================================================


So we've found that x = 64 and y = 12.


Therefore, the two numbers are 64 and 12.


Notice how 64+12 = 76 and how 64-12 = 52. So the answers check out.