The sum of two numbers is 48. If one third of one number is 5 greater than one sixth of another number, which of the following is the smaller number?

Question

Shadow · Answer

The way I think you would represent this is that let x and y be the two numbers.

$$x + y = 48$$
$$\frac{ 1 }{ 3 }x = \frac{ 1 }{ 6 }y + 5$$

Shadow · Answer

Then it's just a system of equations and you solve

zarkam21 · Answer

how would you solve it if there are no like terms?

Shadow · Answer

Isolate one variable in on equation to where it's like x = blah blah blah, then input it into the other equation then solve for y.

Shadow · Answer

Then you input what you get for y back into the first equation, solving for x. Then you just take whichever of the numbers is smaller.

Shadow · Answer

To answer, " which of the following is the smaller number?"

zarkam21 · Answer

I got 26

Shadow · Answer

k now solve for the other number. Input it back into the first equation

zarkam21 · Answer

22 right?

Shadow · Answer

Yes

zarkam21 · Answer

ok thank you so much

Shadow · Answer

You're welcome