<PRE><B>Question 1061383</B>
let y be the smaller angle.
let x be the larger angle.


first equation is x = 2y + 36
second equation is x + y = 90


solve these two euations simultaneously and you get the answer you need.


x + y = 90 because these are two acute angles of a right triangle.


x = 2y + 36 because the larger angle is 36 more than 2 times the smaller angle.


replace x in the second equation by 2y + 36 from the first equation to get:


2y + 36 + y = 90


combine like terms to get 3y + 36 = 90


subtract 36 from both sides of this equation to get 3y = 90 - 36


simplify to get 3y = 54.


solve for y to get y = 18.


the larger angles is twice this plus 36 which makes the larger angle equal to 72 degrees.


18 + 72 = 90 degrees which confirms the solution is good.


the solution is that the smaller angle is equal to 18 degrees.


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