Question

The sum of two numbers is 48. If one number is three more than twice the second number, which of the following is the

smaller number?

O 24
O 15
O 30
O 33

Answer 1

The answer is 15
Hope this helps

Answer 2

15 (second option listed)

y = 15

x = 30

Explanation:

setting up this statement algebraically:

[where x = one of our numbers, y = other number]

x + y = 48

x = (2y + 3)

x = 2y + 3

plug x [now in terms of y] into the original equation

(2y + 3) + y = 48

3y + 3 = 48

- 3 - 3

3 y = 45

÷3 ÷3

y = 15

from this value, we can plug it back into the y-value of the original equation to find our x-value

x + y = 48

x + 15 = 48

- 15 - 15

x = 33

{to check: 33 is 2y + 3}

we know that y = 15 (smaller number) and that x = 33 (larger number)

so, the solution to the question of which is the smaller number is 15