Help with word problem

Question

One number is 8 less than twice another number x.

the sum of the numbers is 40. What is x?

Answer 1

Greetings! Lets solve this shall we ?

So, first equation being a number y is 8 less than twice the other number x is translated into y = 2x - 8.

Then, the sum of the two numbers equals 40 translates into x + y = 40. In order to solve these equations for the two numbers, we must substitute one equation into the other! Next, lets substitute y = 2x - 8 into the other equation such that,

x + (2x-8) = 40 and solve for x first! Add like terms to get

3x - 8 = 40 ..............Now add 8 to both sides such that

3x = 48...................Finally, divide 3 to both sides to get

x = 16!

I hope this helped!