Question 57035
use x to represent the first #
use y to represent the second #
then set up equations
x + y = 12  (sum means to add)(is means equal to)
2x + 3y = 26  (times means to multiply)
then you can multiply the first equation by -2 to isolate y
-2 (x + y = 12) = -2x - 2y = -24  (then add the second equation)
                +  2x + 3y =  26   (the x's are cancelled out)
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                        y =   2   (plug it in to the first equation to find x)
  x + 2 = 12
    - 2   -2
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      x = 10  (you can plug in your answers to the original problem to double check yourself)