What is the smallest number?

Question

The sum of two numbers is 34. The difference of those same two numbers is 16.

Problem : X + Y = 34

X + y = 16

Answer 1

X= 25

Y = 9

Answer 2

The problem:

x+y = 34 (1)

x-y= 16. (2)

1. solve systems of equations by solving for y

thus,

x-y = 16

x= 16 + y

plug into equation 1

16 + y + y = 34

16 + 2y = 34

some algebra and thus y = 9.

thus, if x-9 = 16 and solve for x. Therefore, x = 16 +9 = 25.

Test if our math is true:

x + y = 34

25 + 9 = 34

34 = 34

Answer 3

No

x+ y = 34

x - y = 16

add them y drops out, solve for x by dividing by 2.

Then substitute in for x and solve for y

should be x = 25, y = 9