Question

The sum of two numbers is -149. One number is 5 less than the other. Find the numbers

Answer 1

DEFINE VARIABLES:
x- first number
y- second number

FORM THE TWO EQUATIONS:
x + y = -149
x = y-5

PLUG IN FIRST VALUE TO FIND SECOND (order you plug in doesn’t matter):
(y-5) + y = -149

SIMPLIFY:
(y-5) + y = -149
2y -5 = -149
2y = -144
y = -72

PLUG IN SECOND VALUE TO FIND FIRST:
x + y = -149 —> y = -x-149

x = (-x-149) -5
x = -x -154
2x = -154
x= -77

WRITE FINAL SOLUTION:
(x,y)
(-77, -72)

Answer 2

-72 and -77

Explanation:

-149 divided by 2 is 74.5 and sense we want a 5 difference we divide 5 by 2 to get 2.5 the we take 74.5 and add 2.5 to get - 72 and take 74.5 and subtract 2.5 to get -77.