Question 1057851
Let x represent one number, and let y represent the other number.


Since the sum of the two numbers is 17, you can write the following 
equation:


x + y = 17


Then, since "one number is three less than 4 times the other", you can
write:


x = 4y - 3


Substituting "4y - 3" in place of x in the first equation gives:


4y - 3 + y = 17


5y - 3 = 17


5y = 20


y = 4


Then x = 17 - y = 17 - 4 = 13


Solution: The two numbers are 4 and 13.