
Suzanne O. answered 11/12/19
Tutor
4.5
(19)
International Experience and Multiple State Certifications
Hi Jennifer. Here's how I would go about it:
- Let X be the smaller number
- Let Y be the larger number
The smaller of two numbers is five less than the larger number.
Translated to mathspeak, this means:
X = Y - 5
The larger number decreased by the smaller is five.
Again, in mathspeak:
Y - X = 5 or Y = X + 5
Find the numbers.
So the two equations for your numbers are:
X = Y - 5
and
Y = X + 5