The sum of two numbers is 20. The difference of two numbers is -4. Find the numbers.

Question

The sum of two numbers is 20. The difference of two numbers is -4. Find the
numbers.

Answer 1

ANSWER: One number is 8 and the other number is 12.

 

1. Define the two numbers as x and y and set up  the following two equations from the given information

x+y=20

x-y=-4

 

2. Add the two equations above to get 2x=16. Therefore, x=8. Plug in x=8 into either of the two equations above to get y=12. That is the answer. One number is 8 and the other number is 12.

 

If the answer is helpful please vote it up. If not, please let me know what I can do to assist you further.