Final answer:
To find the numbers, we can set up a system of equations. Let 'x' represent the first number and 'y' represent the second number. The equations are: x = 3y - 5 and x + y = 43. By solving this system, we find that the numbers are 31 and 12.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's represent the first number as 'x' and the second number as 'y'.
We are given that the first number is 5 less than 3 times the second number, so we can write the equation as:
x = 3y - 5
Additionally, we know that the sum of the two numbers is 43, so we can write another equation:
x + y = 43
Now we can solve the system of equations to find the values of x and y:
Substitute the value of x from the first equation into the second equation:
(3y - 5) + y = 43
Combine like terms:
4y - 5 = 43
Add 5 to both sides:
4y = 48
Divide both sides by 4:
y = 12
Now substitute the value of y back into the first equation:
x = 3(12) - 5
x = 36 - 5
x = 31
Therefore, the numbers are 31 and 12.