Question

One number is five more than another, and their sum is three less than three times the smaller. Find the numbers.

If x represents the smaller number, which equation could be used to solve for x?

Answer 1

one number is x
assume that the other number is y

since x is the smaller number, and one number is 5 more than the other
therefore, x=y+5 (equation 1)

and their sum (x+y)is 3 less than 3 times the smaller(3x-3)
i.e. x+y=3x-3
which gives 2x-y=3 (equation 2)

you can solve the to equations to find x

Answer 2

6 is 5 more than 1 (6=5+1)
but 6>1
so I think the first equation should be y=x+5 since you said x is the smaller of x and y

Answer 3

oh yeah sry ... y=x+5