Question

The sum of 2 numbers is 25 and their difference is 7. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

The numbers are 9 and 16.

Explanation:

It is possible to solve this problem without using algebra and equations.

One number is 7 more than the other, but they add to 25.

If you subtract the difference of 7 first, you will be left with the sum of two equal numbers.

`25-7 = 18`

`18 div 2 = 9`

The one number is 9 and the other is 7 more than 9, so (9+7 = 16)

The numbers are 9 and 16.

Check: 9+16 = 25#
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You can also use Algebra and only one variable.

Define the numbers first:
Let the smaller number be `x`
The other number is 7 more than x, so it is `(x+7)`

The sum of the numbers is 25.

`x+x+7 = 25`

`2x +7 = 25" "larr` subtract 7 from both sides

`2x = 25-7`

`2x = 18`

`x = 9" "` this is the smaller number

The other number is `9+7 = 16`