1 number is 8 more than twice the other. The sum of the two is 26. Find the numbers

Question

1 number is 8 more than twice the other.  The sum of the two is 26.  Find the larger and smaller number

Answer 1

Let us say that the numbers are X and Y.

 

(a) The first sentence can be rephrased then as follows "X is 8 more than twice Y"

This is the first equation (1)  X = 8 + 2*Y

 

(b) The second sentence can be rephrased then as follows " The sum of X and Y is 26."

This is the second equation (2) X+ Y = 26

 

Can you solve the problem from here?

Answer 2

Let the smaller number be x, then the larger number is 2x+8.

 

Their sum is 26, so:

 

x+2x+8 = 26

3x+8 = 26

3x = 18

x = 6

2x+8 = 20

 

The numbers are 6 and 20.