A number is 12 greater than a second number.The sum of the two numbers is 56. What is the smaller number.

Question

A number is 12 greater than a second number.The sum of the two numbers is 56. What is the smaller number.

Answer 1

Hint: try algebra. Let x be the smaller number; then the larger number has to be x+12.

Now convert the second sentence of your question into one equation, and solve it. Voilà