<PRE><B>Question 55515</B>
the sum of two numbers is two.
x + y = 2
x = (2 - y); substitute for x in the 2nd equation
:
the difference between eight and twice the smaller number is two less than four times the larger.   Let the smaller number be x:
    8 - 2x = 4y - 2
  -2x - 4y = -2 - 8
:
Get rid of all the negatives, mult eq by -1:
  2x + 4y = +10
:
Substitute (2-y) for x:
2(2-y) + 4y = 10
4 - 2y +4y = 10
         2y = 10 -4
          y = 6/2
          y = +3
:
Use x + y = 2 to find the value of x:
x + 3 = 2
    x = 3 -3
    x = -1
:
:
Check the solutions:
 8 - 2x = 4y - 2
 8 - 2(-1) = 4(3) - 2
 8 + 2 = 12 - 2
            
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