The smaller of two numbers is 3 less than the greater. If the greater is decreased by twice the smaller, the result is -5. Find the two numbers.

Question

I forgot how to set up the equation, can someone help me?

Answer 1

We can start by setting the two unknown variables "x" be the smaller and "y" be the greater.

First statement said "Smaller is 3 less than the greater". So we will have equation one => x = y - 3

Second statement said "If the greater is decreased by twice the smaller, the result is -5." So we will have second equation => y - 2x = -5.

eq(1) => x = y - 3

eq(2) => y - 2x = -5

Answer 2

x = smaller number

x + 3 = bigger number

greater decreased by twice smaller is -5

(x+3) - 2x = -5

-x + 3 = -5

-x = -8

x = 8

x + 3 = 11

8,11

Answer 3

b = a - 3

a - 2b = -5

Substitute a - 3 for b in the 2nd equation.

a - 2(a - 3) = -5

a - 2a + 6 = -5

-a = -11

a = 11

b = 11- 3

b = 8

Answer 4

So we start with two numbers, x and y.

Let us assume x is the smaller integer:

1. So x = y-3

The question asks: if the greater is decreased by twice the smaller, the result is -5

That means that if y is decreased by 2x the result is -5

1. So y - 2x = -5

since x = y-3, we can substitube x in the above equation with y-3

1. So y - (y-3)*2 = -5
2. y - 2y + 6 = -5
3. -y +6 =-5
4. -y = -5 +-6 = -11
5. So y = 11

If y = 11 then x = y-3 which means x is 8