Question 138412
Let x = "One number"
:
From the statement,"One number is two less than the second number." we can say:
Second number = (x+2)
:
Write an equation for statement (the word "is" usually means equal (=):
"twice the first is four more than three times the second."
2x = 4 + 3(x+2)
:
Multiply what's inside the bracket
2x = 4 + 3x + 6
2x - 3x = 6 + 4; subtract 3x from both sides
-x = 10
x = -10; multiplied the equation by -1
:
The second number = x + 2; therefore: -10 + 2 = -8
:
 find the positive difference between the product of the two numbers and their sum? 
Find the product: -10 * -8 = +80
Find the sum:   -10 + (-8) = -18
----------------------------------use the rules of subtraction to find the difference
The positive difference = +98
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Could you see how we did this?