Let the greater number be represented as g and the smaller number as s.
g + s = 24
(2s + 3) + s = 24
3s + 3 = 24
3s + 3 - 3 = 24 - 3
3s = 21
3s / 3 = s
21 / 3 = 7
s = 7
The smaller number is 7. Now, let’s plug 7 into our equation to find the bigger number:
7 + g = 24
7 + g - 7 = 24 - 7
g = 17
g + s = 24
17 + 7 = 24
The smaller number is 7, and the bigger number is 17.