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Four times a number minus twice another number is -16. The sum of the two numbers is -1. Find the numbers

User Madani
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1 Answer

5 votes

The two numbers are -3 and 2

Solution:

Let the two numbers be "x" and "y"

The sum of the two numbers is -1

Therefore,

x + y = -1 ------ eqn 1

Four times a number minus twice another number is -16

Therefore,

4 times x - 2 times y = -16

4x - 2y = -16 -------- eqn 2

Let us solve eqn 1 and eqn 2

From eqn 1,

x = -1 - y --------- eqn 3

Substitute eqn 3 in eqn 2

4(-1 - y) - 2y = -16

-4 - 4y - 2y = -16

-6y = -12

y = 2

Substitute y = 2 in eqn 3

x = -1 - 2

x = -3

Thus the two numbers are -3 and 2

User Sergey Smelov
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