X+Y=56
X=Y-16
(Y-16)+Y=56
2Y=56+16
2Y=72
Y=72/2
Y=36 ANS.
X+36=56
X=56-36
X=20 ANS.Let x = big number
Let (56 - x) = small number
The smaller number (56 - x) is 16 less than the larger number x.
This is written as (56 - x) = x - 16.
We now simply solve for x.
Once we find x, we then can find the two numbers.
56 - x = x - 16
56 + 16 = x + x
72 = 2x
72/2 = x
36 = x
The big number is 36.
The smaller number is 56 - 36 or 20.