Question

Find two numbers such that their sum, their difference, and their product have the ratio 3:2:5.​

Answer 1

2 and 10

Explanation:

We will assume to numbers represented by x and y.

From the question, we can write the following :

sum = x + y

difference = x - y

product = xy or x*y

Since we have two unknowns, general rule of thumb is that we require

2 equations to solve for them.

Using the ratio, of sum: difference and sum : product,

I can form these 2 equations:

(x + y) / (x -y) = 3/2 (1)

(x + y) / (x*y) = 3/5 (2)

In (1),

we cross multiply and do some tidying we will get

x = 5y

In (2),

we have 5x + 5y = 3x*y

We can then substitute x = 5y into (2) and get the following

5*5y + 5y = 3*5y*y

30y = 15y^2

2y = y^2

y^2 - 2y = 0

After factorization,

y(y - 2) = 0

you will have to options either use y = 0 or y = 2

If we use 2, then using equation (1),

we can solve for x which is 10.

Answer 2

2 , 10

Explanation:

(x+y) / (x-y) = 3/2 ..(1)

3x-3y = 2x+2y

x = 5y

(x+y) / xy = 3/5

(5y+y) / (5y*y) = 3/5

6y/5y² = 3/5

15y² = 30y

y = 2

x = 10

check: (2+10) : (10-2) : (10*2) = 12 : 8 : 20 = 3 : 2 : 5