The sum of two numbers is 42. The larger number is 8 more than the smaller number. What are the two numbers?

Question

The sum of two numbers is 42. The larger number is 8 more than the smaller number. What are the two numbers?

Answer 1

There are two ways to solve this problem.  Algebraically, you can set up an equation, n + n + 8 = 42.  This is saying that the sum of two numbers, one being 8 more than the other, equals 42.  We solve for n:

 

n + n + 8 = 42

2n + 8 = 42

2n = 34

n = 17

 

So, our smaller number (n) is 17, and the larger number (n + 8) is 25.