Two times a number plus three times another number equals 13.The sum of the two numbers is 7.What are the numbers?

2 Answers
May 9, 2018

The two numbers are #8# and #-1#

Explanation:

Let #x# and #y# be the numbers:

#2x+3y=13#
#x+y=7=># #y=7-x#:
#2x+3(7-x)=13#
#2x+21-3x=13#
#x=8#
#y=7-8=-1#

Check:
#2*8+3*(-1)=16-3=13#
#8-1=7#

May 9, 2018

The numbers are #8# and #-1#

Explanation:

You can solve this by using #2# variables and making two simultaneous equations.

But we know the relationship between the two numbers (they add to #7#) so it is possible to use one variable.

Let one number be #x#. The other number is #7-x#

Write an expression for "Two times one number plus three times the other number:"

#2x + 3(7-x)#

Make an equation: The sum is equal to #13#

#2x + 3(7-x) =13#

#2x+21-3x=13#

#-x = 13-21#

#-x = -8#

#x=8#

If one number is #8#, the other number is #7-8 =-1#

Check:

#2 xx 8 + 3xx(-1)#
#=16-3#
#=13#