Question

The larger of two numbers is 5 less than twice the smaller number. The sum of the two numbers is 28. How do you find the two numbers?

Answer 1

The numbers are `11 and 17`

Explanation:

This question can be answered by using either 1 or 2 variables.
I will opt for 1 variable, because the second can be written in terms of the first. Define the numbers and variable first:

Let the smaller number be `x`.

The larger is "5 less than double `x`"

The larger number is `2x-5`

The sum of the numbers is 28. Add them to get `28`

`x + 2x-5 = 28" "larr` now solve the equation for `x`

`3x = 28+5`

`3x = 33`

`x = 11`

The smaller number is `11`.
The larger is `2xx11-5 = 17`

`11+17 = 28`