98.1k views
0 votes
The sum of two numbers is 31. The second number is 4 more than the first number.

User BOSS
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

13.5, 17.5

Explanation:

You have two numbers whose sum is 31 and whose difference is 4. The second number is larger.

Setup

Let x represent the larger number. Then the smaller is x-4, and their sum is ...

x +(x -4) = 31

Solution

Simplifying the expression gives ...

2x -4 = 31

2x = 35 . . . . . add 4

x = 17.5 . . . . . divide by 2

x -4 = 13.5

The two numbers are 13.5 and 17.5.

__

Additional comment

As we have seen here, the larger number is half the total of the 'sum' and 'difference'. (31+4)/2 = 17.5. This is the generic solution to any "sum and difference" problem.

User Furushchev
by
9.4k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories