Question

The sum of two consecutive whole numbers is 53. The smaller number is

(a) 25
(b) 26
(c) 29
(d) 23

Answer 1

$\begin{array}{l}\left(\text{b}\right)26\\ \text{Let the consecutive whole numbers be}x\text{and}(x+\text{1}).\\ \text{Then,}x+(x+1)=53\\ \Rightarrow 2x+1=53\\ \Rightarrow 2x=53-1\\ \Rightarrow x=\frac{\sout{5}{\sout{2}}^{26}}{{\sout{2}}_1}\\ \Rightarrow x=26\end{array}$