Answer:
I would set this up as:
let: lesser number = x
greater number = 2x + 5
Restating the word problem:
lesser number + greater number = 38
x + 2x + 5 = 38
Solving: 3x + 5 = 38
- 5 -5
---------------
3x = 33
--- ---
3 3
x = 11
Substitution for the greater number:
2(11) + 5
22 + 5
27