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The sum of two numbers is 24. The first number is 3 less than 8 times the second. Find the two numbers. Please show your work

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Answer:

21, 3

Explanation:

Let the first and second numbers be x and y, respectively. Then we have ...

x + y = 24 . . . . their sum is 24

x = 8y -3 . . . . . the first is 3 less than 8 times the second.

Substituting for x in the first equation, we have ...

(8y -3) +y = 24

9y = 27 . . . . . . . . add 3

y = 3 . . . . . . . . . . divide by 9

x = 8(3) -3 = 21

The two numbers are 21 and 3.

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