the sum of two numbers is 70. One number is 8 more than the other. What is the smaller number?

Question

the sum of two numbers is 70. One number is 8 more than the other. What is the smaller number?

Answer 1

x+(x+8)=70

2x=62

x=31

Answer 2

First set up the equation:

x + (x+8) = 70

OR

2(x) + 8 = 70

We need to solve for x.

First, eliminate 8 by subtracting it from both sides of the equation.

2(x) + 8 = 70

-8 = -8

That leaves us with the following

2(x) = 62

Now we know that 2x's equal 62, to get only 1 x, we need to divide both sides of the equation by 2

2(x) = 62

÷2 =÷2

This gives us the answer

x=31

So, the smaller number is 31 and the larger number is 31+8, or 39. This gives us the correct answer:

31+39=70