Question

A number is 5 more than 3 times another number. The sum of the two numbers is 33. As an equation, this is written x + 3x + 5 = 33, where x represents the smaller number. Plug in the numbers from the set {3, 5, 7, 9} to find the value of x.

The value of x that holds true for the equation is?
So, the smaller number is?
and the larger number is?

Answer 1

Explanation:

the numbers : x, y

x = 5 + 3y

x + y = 33

when using the first equation in the second we get the mentioned equation (it does not matter which of the 2 numbers is x and which is y, it can all be vice versa, as you can see) :

5 + 3y + y = 33

5 + 4y = 33

4y = 28

y = 7

so, when you try the numbers above in the unsimplified equation, you will also find that 7 is the right answer.

the other number is based on my equations (with the reversed names) :

x = 5 + 3y = 5 + 3×7 = 5 + 21 = 26

the smaller number is 7.

the larger number is 26.