The sum of two numbers, a and b, is 12. The first number, a, is 8 more than the second number

Question

anonymous · Answer

I'm still confused

anonymous · Answer

HOW R U CONFUSED

jim766 · Answer

first step is to translate it

a + b = 12      sum of two numbers, a& b, is 12
a = b + 8        1st number a is 8 more than 2nd

now I would use substitution to solve. Can you finish it?

anonymous · Answer

so it'd be like  12 = (b + 8) + b
[since a = b+ 8] right?

combine like terms: 12 = 2b + 8

use transposition  12 - 8 = 2b
[therefore: 4 = 2b ]

then divide by 2   [ 4/2 = 2b/2]
so b = 2;

now substitute b = 2  to find a [12 = a + 2]

should I also answer that?

calculusxy · Answer

Shouldn't it be 4 because 4+8=12

calculusxy · Answer

It has to be 2+10 because 10 is eight greater than 2.

calculusxy · Answer

Or 10+2

anonymous · Answer

no, @calculusxy, it is not 4 since the other term is 8 and remember we stated before that 8 - 4 should be 8? well, it is not, so we will have to look to other numbers then!

But yes it is 10 :) simply put, we explain this by getting the other term: 2 (since 10 + 2 is indeed 12) and we notice that it also fits the other requirement: 10 - 2 = 8 :) so yay! you solved it :)

hope this helped! have a great day :)