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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

 Jan 29, 2018

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+9466 
+3

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  .   smiley

 Jan 29, 2018
 #1
avatar+9466 
+3
Best Answer

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  .   smiley

hectictar Jan 29, 2018
 #2
avatar+72 
+2

Thank you so very much, hectictar. I was really stuck on that problem. You're a life saver. :D

RedGlasses  Jan 29, 2018

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