Question

The sum of two numbers is seventy-two. One number is two times another. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

24 and 48

Explanation:

Let's let the two numbers be a and b.

Their sum is 72. So:

`a+b=72`

One number (let's use a) is two times another (b). In other words:

`a=2b`

We have a system of equations. We can solve by substituting the second equation into the first. So:

`2b+b=72`

Combine like terms:

`3b=72`

Divide both sides by 3:

`b=24`

So, one of the numbers is 24.

Since their sum is 72, this means that the other number is 72-24 or 48.

So, our two numbers is 24 and 48.

And we're done!