The sum of two numbers is 52. The greater number is 4 more than the smaller number. What equation can be used to solve for the smaller numbe

The sum of two numbers is 52. The greater number is 4 more than the smaller number. What equation can be used to solve for the smaller number?

Let x be the greater number and let x-4  be the smaller number...so we have.....

x + (x-4) = 52      ....if we wanted to solve this, first simplify

2x - 4 = 52              add 4 to both sides

2x = 56                   divide by 2

x = 28     this is the larger number

(x - 4)  =( 28 - 4 ) = 24     and this is the smaller number