Question 104121
Let the two numbers be x and y.

Now their sum(total)is 36 so x+y=36 (i)
and their difference(what you get when you take one number away from the other) is 12 so x-y=12 (ii) (note: we could have said y-x=12 instead,it doesn't matter which way round you do it you will still be able to find the right answers).

So we have:    x+y=36 (i)
and                 
                     x-y=12 (ii)

Now add the two equations together and we get 2x=48 (x+x=2x,+y+-y=y-y=0 and 36+12=48)

 and so x=24 (a half of 48), which means that y=12 (since x+y=36). 

So the two numbers are 24 and 12ANS