Question 988583: a number is five less than three times another number. The sum of the two numbers is 55. What is the original number? Answer by macston(5194) (Show Source):
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x and y are the two numbers
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x+y=55
x=55-y Use this to substitute for x.
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x=3y-5 Substitute for x.
55-y=3y-5
60=4y
15=y ANSWER 1: One of the numbers is 15.
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x=55-y=55-15=40 ANSWER 2: the other number is 40.
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CHECK:
x=3y-5
40=3(15)-5
40=45-5
40=40
