Question

The smaller of two numbers is 12 less than three times the larger. If their difference is 2, what is the larger number?

Answer 1

let x be the smaller number
let y be the larger number

then
3y -12 = x (1)
y -2 = x (2)

sub (1) into (2)
3y-12 =y -2
2y = 10
y = 5

sub y= 5 into (2)

(5) -2 = x
x = 3
thus the numbers are 5 and 3