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The difference of two numbers is five. Five times the lesser number minus the greater number is -9. What are the two numbers?

2 Answers

4 votes

Final answer:

To solve this problem, we can set up a system of two equations using the given information. By solving this system using the substitution method, the two numbers are determined to be 4 and -1.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this problem, let's assign variables to the two numbers. Let x be the greater number and y be the lesser number.

The first piece of information tells us that the difference of two numbers is five, so we can write the equation: x - y = 5.

The second piece of information tells us that five times the lesser number minus the greater number is -9, so we can write the equation: 5y - x = -9.

Now we have a system of two equations with two variables. We can solve this system using a method like substitution or elimination to find the values of x and y.

Let's use the substitution method:

From the first equation, we can rewrite it as x = y + 5.

Substitute this expression for x in the second equation:

5y - (y + 5) = -9

Simplify the equation:

4y - 5 = -9

Add 5 to both sides:

4y = -4

Divide both sides by 4:

y = -1

Substitute this value back into the first equation:

x - (-1) = 5

x + 1 = 5

Subtract 1 from both sides:

x = 4

So the two numbers are 4 and -1.

User Pooja Nilangekar
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5.4k points
2 votes

Answer:

Let the greater no. = x

Let the lesser no. = y

so, x-y=5

5y-x=9

& go from there by solving the two equations together.

User Ankit Singhania
by
5.4k points