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The sum of two numbers is -5. The difference is
13. What is the smaller number?

User Sepero
by
8.3k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

The smaller number is -9.

Explanation:

Let x and y be the two unknown numbers.

Their sum is -5. Hence:


x+y=-5

Their difference is 13. Hence:


x-y=13

This yields a system of equations. We can solve this using elimination. Adding the two equations together:


(x+y)+(x-y)=(-5)+(13)

Simplify:


2x=8

Divide both sides by two. Thus:


x=4

Using either equation (I'll use the first):


(4)+y=-5\Rightarrow y=-9

So, our two numbers are 4 and -9.

The smaller number is -9.

User Ajeett
by
8.3k points

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