Find two numbers whose sum is 55. The Larger number is 4 more than twice the smaller

Question

what is the answer to this question, because i don't understand.

Answer 1

Let x = the smaller number. If the larger number is 4 more than twice the smaller, the larger number is represented as

 

x + 2x + 4 =55.  Combine like terms

 

3x + 4 =55  Again, you want to combine like terms.  That means getting the whole numbers on one side of the = sign

 

To do this, you subtract 4 from both sides.  It looks like this

 

3x +4 -4 = 55-4  Simplify.  The 4's cancel out as one is +4 and one is -4.  On the right side subtract 4 from 55.  It looks like this

 

3x = 51.  To get x or the smaller number, simply divide both sides by 3

x = 17

 

The smaller number = 17

The larger number is  2 times the smaller + 4:

 

17 + 17 + 4 =38

The larger number = 38

To check your answer add the 17 and 38 to see if it is 55.  It is, so you did the problem correctly