Question 370549
"The sum of two numbers is 52,"
x + y = 52
y = (52-x)
: 
"their difference is two less than the smaller number."
x - y = y - 2
x = y + y - 2
x = 2y - 2
replace y with (52-x)
x = 2(52-x) - 2
x = 104 - 2x - 2
x + 2x = 104 - 2
3x = 102
x = {{{102/3}}}
x = 34 is the larger number
then
y = 52 - 34
y = 18 is the smaller number
:
:
check solution in the statement,
"their difference is two less than the smaller number.",
34 - 18 = 18 - 2
16 = 16