The numbers on two consecutively numbered gym lockers have a sum of 143. What are the locker numbers

Question

The numbers on two consecutively numbered gym lockers have a sum of 143. What are the locker numbers? 

Answer 1

here's what we know:

a + b = 143 (the numbers added together make 143)

b = a + 1 (one locker is one number larger than the other)

 

Since we have a value for our variable, let's plug it in:

a + a + 1 = 143

Combine like terms:

2a + 1 = 143

subtract 1 from both sides:

2a + 1 - 1 = 143 - 1

2a = 142

Divide by 2 to both sides:

2a / 2 = 142 / 2

a = 71

 

b = 71 + 1

b = 72

 

check:

71 + 72 = 143

143 = 143