The sum of two positive integers is 39. When the smaller integer is subtracted from twice the larger, the result is 39. Find the two integers.

Answer 1

a + b are positive integers and a < b

1. a + b = 39, given
2. 2b - a = 39, given

from 1, a = 39 - b

substituting this b into eq. 2, we get 2b - (39-b) = 39 or 3b -39 = 39 or 3b = 78 or b = 26, so putting this result back into eq. 1, a = 13.

Checking, in Eq. 2:

2*26-13 = 39 , check