Question

the sum of two numbers is 24. seven times the smaller number is the same as 5 times the larger number. find the smaller number

Answer 1

Let's represent the smaller number with x and the larger with y.

We know that 7x=5y
If we divide 24 by 2 we get 12 so...
X Y
12 12
-2 +2
10 14
-2 +2
8 16

16/2=8 and 16+8=24

So the smaller number is 8