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8 votes
The difference of two numbers is 8. their sum is 17. find the two numbers?

User Inxsible
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1 Answer

5 votes

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Answer:

  • 4.5
  • 12.5

Explanation:

Let s represent the smaller number. Then s+8 is the larger number, and their sum is ...

s + (s+8) = 17

2s = 17 -8 = 9

s = 9/2 = 4.5

s+8 = 4.5 +8 = 12.5

The two numbers are 4.5 and 12.5.

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Comment on problems of this type

A method is shown here for solving the problem using one equation in one variable. The general solution can be seen to be ...

two numbers = (sum ± difference)/2

Here, that is ...

two numbers = (17±8)/2 = (25, 9)/2 = (12.5, 4.5)

User Tim Lepage
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