Question

The sum of the two numbers is 97. The difference is 45. What is the two numbers?

Answer 1

71 and 26 are the two numbers. They add to 97 and have a difference of 45.

Answer 2

x = 71

y = 26

Explanation:

x + y = 97

x - y = 45

if you add the two equations together then the y-values will drop out and you will have:

2x = 142

x = 71

if we know 'x' we can now find 'y':

71 - y = 45

-y = -26, therefore y = 26