Answer:
Explanation:
You really don't have enough information to solve this with one answer. You want a value for y and there is no what to limit it to just 1 set of values. For example if x = 23 then
x = y + y - 3
x = 2y - 3
23 = 2y - 3 Add three to both sides
23+3 = 2y Combine
26 = 2y Divide by 2
26/2 = 2y/2 Do the division
13 = y
The smaller number is 13 - 3 = 10
Their sum is 13 + 10=23 But that answer is not unique.
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Suppose x = 13
13 = 2y - 3 Add 3
13 + 3 = 2y
16 = 2y
y =8
The larger number = 8
The smaller number = 5
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The best I can do is give you the equation which is
x = 2y - 3