word problem

jamieleeann

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Joined
Nov 1, 2005
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The sum of two numbers is 42. One number plus two times the other number is 57. What are the numbers? The answers are 15 and 27 but I dont know how to get there. Help?
 
Let the 2 numbers be a and b

then
a + b =42

and

a + (2b) =57

Rearrange the first equation to
a= 42 -b

now place this into the second equation so you have just one variable and solve.
 
jamieleeann said:
The sum of two numbers is 42. One number plus two times the other number is 57. What are the numbers? The answers are 15 and 27 but I dont know how to get there. Help?
WHY don't you know "how to get there"?

let the numbers = x and y; then:
x + y = 42
x + 2y = 57

Do you know how to solve that?
 
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