Question

if one number is five more than another number, and the smaller number is half of the larger, what are the two numbers

Answer 1

The larger number is 10 and the smaller is 5 less, or 5.

Explanation:

Represent the larger and the smaller numbers by L and S.

Then L = S + 5, and S = L/2

Substituting L/2 for S in the first equation, we get L = (L/2) + 5

Multiplying both sides by 2, we get 2L = L + 10, or L = 10.

The larger number is 10 and the smaller is 5 less, or 5.

Answer 2

smaller number = 5

larger number = 10

Explanation:

Let

smaller number = x

larger number = x+5

"the smaller number is half of the larger" means

x+5 = 2x

Solve for x

5 = 2x -x = x

Therefore

smaller number = 5

larger number = 10