Two numbers add up to 12. If the first number is five times the second, what are the two numbers?

Answer 1

Hi Sabrina!

In algebra, if we don't know what a number is, we give it a letter instead. Two numbers add up to 12, and we don't know what they are. Let's call the second number 'x', and since the first number is 5 times the second number, we can just call it 5x.

Now let's make an equation. We know that the two numbers add up to 12, so we have:

5x + x = 12

Simplify.

6x = 12

Divide by 6.

x = 2

So we know the second number is 2. If we multiply that by 5, we get 10, so the first number should be 10. Then, just check your work!

10 + 2 = 12

Answer 2

X+5x=12

6x=12

X=2

2 and 10