The differance of two numbers is 16.Five times the larger number is nine timesthe smaller. what are the numbers?

Question

just a little confused about the formula

Answer 1

Here's what we know:

x - y = 16 _{since we have a difference}

5x = 9y _{x is the larger since otherwise y - x would create a negative number in this case}.

 

We can isolate x in the first equation easy enough by moving y to the other side:

x = 16 + y

Now that we have a value for x, we can put that into the latter equation:

5(16+y) = 9y

 

80 + 5y = 9y

 

Since you said you only had trouble with setting the equation up, you should be able to complete the rest of this without any trouble.