Question 435724
  <pre><font face = "Tohoma" size = 4 color = "indigo"><b>
Hi
first car cost him 2000 more than twice the price of the second car
Let x and (2x + 2000) represent the prices of the second and first car respectitvely
Question states***
  x  + (2x + 2000) = $14,000
      3x = 12,000
       x = $4,000, the second car.  The first car $10,000,    (2*$4000 + $2000)

In reply to Your question:One may, in an example like this..
try various combinations adding up to $14,000,finding the one combination that
 satisfies the criteria of one being $2000 more than twice the other.
Like $10,000 and $4,000 do. 
However, using the criteria and assigning the x and (2x+2000)FIRST
and then putting those together for the sum...is the 'fastest and surest' way