I can't figure this one out..

Question

Some states have a single area code for the entire state. Two such states have area codes where one is double one is double the other. If the sum of these integers is 1203, find the two area codes.

Answer 1

So to clarify what's been presented here, we're told that, of two states, they have two area codes, where "one is double the other" - meaning you have the first area code, and then the second area code is twice the number of the first area code (is that correct?).

When I figured that understanding - and given the statement that we have the sum of two integers is 1203 - then I set out with this Set Up:

Let x = the first area code

Let 2x = twice the first area code (for second area code)

And so "x" and "2x" are the two integers that we are looking for that we can put into an equation where they are adding and set equal to 1203.

x + 2x = 1203 ...thus we solve it as follows:

3x = 1203

3 3

x = 401

So the first area code then is 401.

And when we replace "x" with 401 in the expression "2x" to find the second area code, we get:

2x = 2(401) = 802

So then the second area code is 802.

Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any follow-up questions on this. Peace :)