Question

The sum of two numbers is 35. The larger number is 13 more than the smaller number. What are the numbers?

Answer 1

since a+b = 35
and a+13 = b
you can substitute (a+13) in for b for the first equation

a + a + 13 = 35
2a + 13 = 35
2a = 22
a = 11
you can now substitute in 11 for a in to the second equation
11 + 13 = b
24 = b

the two numbers and the 11 and 24

Answer 2

let b>a

b=a+13

a+b=35, using b found above we have:

a+a+13=35

2a+13=35

2a=22

a=11, and since b=a+13

b=24

So the two numbers are 11 and 24