How do you find two numbers which differ by 5, such that twice the first number less three times the second will give an answer of #2#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-03-16T17:37:50

The second number is #8# and the first number is #13#

Write an expression for each of the numbers in terms of #x# and then make an equation.

Let the second number be #x#.
The first number is #x+5#

Twice the first, less three times the second #=2#

#2(x+5)-3(x) = 2#

#2x +10 -3x = 2#

#10-2 = 3x -2x" "larr# to keep the values positive.

#8 = x#

The second number is #8# and the first number is #13#

Check:

#2xx13 - 3xx8 = 26-24 = 2#
Checks out fine!