Question

What least number must be subtracted from each of the numbers $14,17,34$ and $42$ so that the remainders are proportional?

Answer 1

Let x must be subtracted

Then

$\frac{14-x}{17-x}=\frac{34-x}{42-x}$

$(14-x)(42-x)=(34-y)(17-x)$

$x^2-56x+558=x^2-51x+578$

$5x=10$

$x=2$