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The larger of two numbers is 17 more than twice the smaller. When the larger number is divided by the smaller, the quotient is 3 and the remainder is 6. Find the two numbers

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7 votes

Answer:

The numbers described here are 39 and 11.

Explanation:

Let's call the numbers a and b, a being the larger. We're told two things:

The larger of the two numbers is 17 more than twice the smaller.

Which we can express as:

a = 2b + 17

When the larger number is divided by the smaller, the quotient is 3 and the remainder is 6

And that can be expressed as:

a = 3b + 6

We can now take those two expressions and, noting that they both define a, we can say that they are equivalent, and solve for b:

2b + 17 = 3b + 6

3b - 2b = 17 - 6

b = 11

With b found, we can now take either of the first expressions, and solve for a:

a = 2b + 17

a = 2(11) + 17

a = 22 + 17

a = 39

Now we can check whether that is correct by plugging it into the other expression and seeing if b still comes to 11:

a = 3b + 6

39 = 3b + 6

3b = 33

b = 11

So we know that the answer is correct.

User Dan Ling
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