<PRE><B>Question 252873</B>
    the sum of two numbers is 39. When the smaller number is doubled and the larger is increased by 3, the resulting numbers are equal. What are the numbers?
.
Let x = smaller number
and y = larger number
.
x + y = 39
2x = y+3
.
Reordering the pair of equations above:
 x + y = 39
2x - y =  3
.
Adding the two equations together:
 x + y = 39
2x - y =  3
-----------
3x     = 42
x = 14  (smaller number)
.
Larger number:
x + y = 39
14 + y = 39
y = 39-14
y = 25 (larger number)</PRE>