One number is 17 more than another. If the sum of the two numbers is 171 ​, find the two numbers.

Question

One number is

17

more than another. If the sum of the two numbers is

171​,

find the two numbers.

Answer 1

Hi Frankie,

Let's use the variable, x , to represent one of the unknown numbers.

Because the other number is 17 more , we can write the following expression to represent the other number: (x + 17)

Since the sum of the two numbers is 171, we can write and solve the following equation to find

the number, x:

x + (x + 17) = 171

2x + 17 = 171

2x + 17 - 17 = 171 - 17

2x = 154

2x/2 = 154/ 2

x = 77

One of the numbers is 77

The other will be 77 + 17 = 94