Question

I don't know how to solve this. help please?

Answer 1

51 74

Explanation:

x = smaller

x +23 = larger

added together (x + x+23) equal to 28 less than 3x = 3x-28

x + x+23 = 3x-28 subtract 2x from both sides of the equation

23 = x -28 add 28 to both sides

51 = x then the larger = 51 + 23 = 74

Answer 2

51 and 74

Explanation:

Let the smaller of the two numbers be represented by x. The larger of the two numbers is 23 greater than the smaller, and therefore can be written as x + 23.

Set up an Equation

First, we can write the sum of the two numbers in terms of the smaller number. "three times the smaller" is 3x, and "28 less" is 3x-28.

Therefore our equation is:

`x+x+23=3x-28`

Solve the Equation

Start by adding like terms

`2x+23=3x-28`

Subtract 23 from both sides

`2x=3x-51`

Subtract 3x from both sides

`-x=-51`

Divide both sides by -1

`x=51`

The larger term is:
`x+23\Rightarrow51+23\Rightarrow74`

Check

`51+74=125`

`3(51)-28=153-28=125`

`125=125`

The smaller number is 51 and the larger number is 74