Question 38266
Let's call our two numbers x and y.  From the facts in the problem, we have
x - y = 45 and
y = 3x - 3
Substituting this into the first equation we have
x - (3x - 3) = 45
-2x + 3 = 45
-2x = 42
x = -21
Then we can find y by
y = 3(-21) - 3
y = -66