Answer:
The first number is -6. The second number is -4.
Explanation:
Let the second number be x.
"one number is 2 less than a second number"
Second number: x
First number: x - 2
"twice the second number is 22 more than 5 times the first"
2x = 5(x - 2) + 22
Distribute on the right side.
2x = 5x - 10 + 22
Subtract 5x from both sides. Combine like terms on the right side.
-3x = 12
Divide both sides by -3.
x = -4
x - 2 = -4 - 2 = -6
The first number is -6. The second number is -4.