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40 votes
This math problem seemed simple but it’s giving me so much trouble

This math problem seemed simple but it’s giving me so much trouble-example-1
User Martin Richards
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2 Answers

19 votes
19 votes

Answer:smaller is 6 larger is 8

Step-by-step explanation:

User Chaokunyang
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2.9k points
17 votes
17 votes

Given:

One number is 2 less than a second number.

Twice the second number is 2 less than 3 times the first.

Required:

We need to find the smaller number and the larger number,

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x be the first number and y be the second number.

The first number is 2 less than the second number.


x=y-2

Twice the second number is 2 less than 3 times the first.


twice\text{ the second number means 2y.}
three\text{ times the first number means 3x.}

Twice the second number is 2 less than 3 times the first.


2y=3x-2

Substitute x =y-2 in the equation.


2y=3(y-2)-2


2y=3y-3*2-2


2y=3y-6-2


2y=3y-8

Solve for y.


3y-2y=8


y=8

Substitute y =8 in the equation x =y-2, we get


x=8-2
x=6

Final answer:


The\text{ smaller number is 6.}


The\text{ larger number is 8.}

User Gbps
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