Question 830229
Let x be the first number, and y be the second number.
Here is the information that the question gives us:
x - 2y = 4 (a number minus twice another number is 4)
3x + 2y = 12 (three times the first number plus two times the second number is 12)
Add these together:
(x+3x) (-2y+2y cancel each other out) = 16
Add the Xs
4x = 16
Divide each side by 4
x = 4
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If we know that x is 4, then we can use the information given to find y.
x (which is 4) - y = 4
4 - y = 4
y is therefore 0
.
Plug it in to prove it.
Three times the first number (3*4) + two times the second number (2*0) = 12
12 + 0 = 12
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Tricky because of the 0.  It misleads your thinking :-).