One number is 4 more than another, and their sum is 60. What is the smaller number?

If x = the larger number and y = the smaller number, then which of the following systems could be used to solve the problem?

x + y = 60 and -x + y = 4
x + y = 60 and x - y = 4
x + y = 60 and x + y = 4

Question

One number is 4 more than another, and their sum is 60. What is the smaller number?



If x = the larger number and y = the smaller number, then which of the following systems could be used to solve the problem?

x + y = 60 and -x + y = 4
x + y = 60 and x - y = 4
x + y = 60 and x + y = 4

anonymous · Answer

either of the first two would work