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16 votes
16 votes
One number is 1 more than 3 times another. The sum of the numbers is 17. Find the two

numbers.

The two numbers are ___ and ___

User Franklynd
by
2.9k points

1 Answer

11 votes
11 votes

Answer:

The two numbers are 4 and 13.

Explanation:

Pre-Solving

We are given that one number is 1 more than 3 times the other, and that the sum of the numbers is 17.

Solving

Define the Variable

Since both of the numbers are unknown, the first number will be assigned a variable; let's say it is x.

The other number, since it is 1 more than three times the other, will be 1+3x

Our variables are:

Number 1 = x

Number 2 = 1 + 3x

Equation

We know that the sum of the numbers is 17.

This means that number 1 + number 2 = 17.

We can plug the values that we found above to create this equation:

x + 1 + 3x = 17

Solution

We can combine like terms.

4x + 1 = 17

Subtract 1 from both sides

4x = 16

Divide both sides by 4.

x = 4

The first number is 4.

The second number is 1 + 3x, which if we substitute x for 4, it will be 1 + 3(4) = 1 + 12 = 13.

User Franck
by
3.0k points
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