Two numbers total 12, and their difference is 18. Find the smaller of the two numbers.
If you can, please show me how you did it because I can not figure this out
x + y = 12
x - y = 18 add these
2x = 30 divide both sides by 2
x = 15
And using x + y = 12 we have
15 + y = 12 subtract 15 from both sides
y = -3
So (x,y) = (15, -3) ⇒ the smaller number is -3
