Question

William is thinking of 2 numbers. The larger number is four less than two times the smaller

number. The sum of the numbers is 104. What are William's numbers? Please write your
answer in a sentence.

Answer 1

The numbers are 36 and 68.

Explanation:

Let the smaller number be x.

"The larger number is four less than two times the smaller

number."

The larger number is

2x - 4

The sum of the numbers is x + 2x - 4, or 3x - 4.

"The sum of the numbers is 104."

3x - 4 = 104

3x = 108

x = 36

The smaller number is 36.

The larger number is 2x - 4, or

2x - 4 = 2(36) - 4 = 72 - 4 = 68

The larger number is 68.

Answer: The numbers are 36 and 68.