Question

One number is 3 less than 4 times a second number. The difference of the first number and twice the second number is 7. What are the two numbers?

Answer 1

x = -11, y = -2

Explanation:

There's two equations. Let's say the first number is x, and the second number is y. Then, there is 4y-3 = x, and 2y-x = 7. We plug in 4y-3 for x into the second equation, and we get 2y - (4y-3) = 7. Solving more gets us -2y + 3 = 7. thus, -2y = 4, meaning y = -2. We plug back into the second equation, getting -4 - x = 7. This 11 = -x, or x = -11.