+72 Did I write down this equation correctly???
1. The sum of two numbers is 361, and the difference between the two numbers is 173. What are the two numbers?
I wrote down this equation: "361 = 34 + 4x"
*****I know that this should be easy for me, but I never really understood how to turn information from a sentence problem into an equation.
Thanks in advanced for the help!
-RedGlasses :D
+9481 Let's call the two numbers a and b .
The sum of two numbers is 361.
a + b = 361
The difference between the two numbers is 173.
a - b = 173
Now we have two equations and two variables:
a + b = 361
a - b = 173 We can solve the system of equations like this...
361 + 173 = 361 + 173 Plug in a + b for 361 since they are equivalent,
and plug in a - b for 173 since they are equivalent.
(a + b) + (a - b) = 361 + 173
a + b + a - b = 534
2a = 534
a = 267
Now we can use this value of a to find b .
267 + b = 361
b = 94
So the two numbers are 267 and 94 . 
+9481 Let's call the two numbers a and b .
The sum of two numbers is 361.
a + b = 361
The difference between the two numbers is 173.
a - b = 173
Now we have two equations and two variables:
a + b = 361
a - b = 173 We can solve the system of equations like this...
361 + 173 = 361 + 173 Plug in a + b for 361 since they are equivalent,
and plug in a - b for 173 since they are equivalent.
(a + b) + (a - b) = 361 + 173
a + b + a - b = 534
2a = 534
a = 267
Now we can use this value of a to find b .
267 + b = 361
b = 94
So the two numbers are 267 and 94 .
+72 Thank you so very much, hectictar. I was really stuck on that problem. You're a life saver. :D
