You have that one of two complementary angles can be written algebraically as follow:
3x - 26 "26 less than three times the other angles"
where x is the other angles, and (3x - 26) is the complementary angle.
You have that the addition of two complementaries angle is equal to 90°, then by adding the expressions for both complementaries angle you have:
(x) + (3x- 26) = 90
You solve the previous expression for x, just as follow:
(x) + (3x - 26) = 90 eliminate parenthesis
x + 3x - 26 = 90 add 26 both sides
x + 3x = 90 + 26 simplify similar terms
4x = 116 divide both sides between 4
x = 116/4
x = 29
Hence, the smaller angle is equal to 29°
The longer angle is:
3x - 26 "replace x = 29"
= 3(29) - 26
= 87 - 26
= 61
Hence, the longer angles is equal to 61°