Question 626832
Given:
Let x = the # of hazardous sites in California
    y = the # of hazardous sites in Washington

The number of hazardous waste sites in California can be represented as:    
    x = 2y - 5 which is equal to 27
Substitute the value of x from the given, thus giving us:
    27 = 2y - 5

    27 + 5 = 2y

to solve for y:

    32= 2y
    y = 16

therefore there are 16 hazardous waste sites in Washington
checking:
substitute the values of x and y:

    27 = 2(16) - 5
    27 = 32 - 5
    27 = 27 checked!