Question

The difference between two numbers is 69. Four times the smaller is equal to 3 more than the larger. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

smaller number = y

larger number = x

x - y = 69

4y = x + 3

you can solve this using substitution

x = 69 + y

(isolating one of the variables)

4y = 69 + y + 3

(substituting 69 + y for x into the other equation)

4y = 72 + y

3y = 72

y = 24

(simplify)

x - 24 = 69

x = 93

(substituting 24 into one of the original equations)