Question 115334
Let's call our two numbers x and y.

We know that the sum of two numbers is 74, that is, {{{x + y = 74}}}.  We also know that the second number, y, is two more than 3 times the first number, x.  That is to say {{{y-2 = 3*x}}}, or {{{y - 3*x = 2}}}.  

Now we need to solve the system linearly:

*[invoke linear "x", "y", 1, 1, 74, -3, 1, 2]


We conclude that your two numbers are 18 and 56.  Let's just check to make sure.  Is the sum of 55 and 19 74?  Well, 55 + 19 = 74, so that agrees with the first part of the problem.  Now, is 56 2 more than 3 * 18?  Well, 3 * 18 = 54, and 54 + 2 = 56, therefore everything works out!  Our two numbers are 18 and 56.