Question

The sum of two numbers is $20$. The larger number is four less than twice the smaller number. What are the two numbers?

Answer 1

Here we take the smaller number as $x$ and hence the larger number $y$ will be $2x-4$, as per the given information. so we get the equation as,
$x+y=20$
or by substituting the value of $y$ in terms of $x$
$x+2x-4=20$
$3x=20+4$
$3x=24$
$x=24/3$
$x=8$
So the smaller number is = 8
and the larger number = $8\times 2-4=12$
Answer: Smaller number or $y$ = 8
and the larger number or $x$ = 12