Question 475804
the sum of two numbers is 41, the larger number is 1 less than twice the smaller number:
 translate the word problem into a system of two linear equations.
:
Let x = one number which is the larger
let y = another number 
:
Write an equation for each statement:
:
"the sum of two numbers is 41,"
x + y = 41
:
" the larger number is 1 less than twice the smaller number:"
x = 2y - 1
:
To solve it, we can substitute (2y-1) for x in the 1st equation;
(2y-1) + y = 41
2y + y - 1 = 41
3y = 41 + 1
3y = 42
y = {{{42/3}}}
y = 14
:
Use the 2nd equation to find x
:
x = 2y - 1
x = 2(14) - 1
x = 27
:
Check solutions in the 1st equation