Final answer:
The smaller number is found by setting up a system of equations based on the given information and solving for x. The smaller number is equal to 31.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the smaller number, we can set up a system of equations based on the given information.
Let x be the smaller number. Then the other number can be represented as x+8, since it is 8 more than the smaller number.
We know that the sum of the two numbers is 70, so we can write the equation: x + (x+8) = 70.
Simplifying the equation, we get: 2x + 8 = 70.
Subtracting 8 from both sides, we have: 2x = 62.
Dividing both sides by 2, we find that x = 31.
Therefore, the smaller number is 31.