Question

Michelle is playing a number guessing game where you must guess the two numbers she is thinking about and gives two hints. The first hint is that the sum of two numbers is 50. The second hint is the first number is 43 less than twice the second number. What are the two numbers?

Answer 1

The two numbers are a = 57 and b = -7

Explanation:

Let's write the first sentence into an equation.

A) The sum of two numbers is 50

`a+b=50` (1)

B)The first number is 43 less than twice the second number.

`a=43-2b` (2)

Now, we just need to solve the system of equations (1) and (2)

Let's put (2) into the (1)

`43-2b+b=50`

`43-b=50`

`b=43-50`

`b=-7`

Using this value in (1) we can find a

`a-7=50`

`a=57`

Therefore, the two numbers are a = 57 and b = -7

I hope it helps you!