Question

The sum of two numbers is 38 and the difference is 8. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

15 & 23

Explanation:

I used an insert and check kind of method. Basically you insert numbers and check if they work for both equations. the equations are as follow:

X + Y = 38

X - Y = 8

I inserted various combinations of numbers and we'll use one as reference.

I used 16 and 22. 16 and 22 correctly fits the requirements of the first equation but when we do 22 - 16 we see that it equals 6. this is 2 off from the second equation. Using this info I ask myself, was the answer close or far from the answer needed.

Hope this answered any questions. please comment on this if you need any othern have a nice day!

Answer 2

Since the sum is 38, y must be 15. And indeed the difference between 23 and 15 is 8, so it's correct.