The Sum of Two Numbers is 12 and Their Difference is 4

The sum of two numbers is 12 and their difference is 4. What are the two numbers? Let's start by calling the two numbers we are looking for x and y.

The sum of x and y is 12. In other words, x plus y equals 12 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 12

The difference between x and y is 4. In other words, x minus y equals 4 and can be written as equation B:

x - y = 4

Now solve equation B for x to get the revised equation B:

x - y = 4
x = 4 + y

Then substitute x in equation A from the revised equation B and then solve for y:

x + y = 12
4 + y + y = 12
4 + 2y = 12
2y = 8
y = 4

Now we know y is 4. Which means that we can substitute y for 4 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 12
x + 4 = 12
X = 8

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 12 and their difference is 4. What are the two numbers? Answer: 8 and 4 as proven here:

Sum: 8 + 4 = 12
Difference: 8 - 4 = 4

Sum Difference Calculator
Do you want the answer to a similar problem? Enter the sum and difference here to find the two numbers:

The Sum of Two Numbers is 12 and Their Difference is 5
Using what you learned on this page, try to figure out the next problem on our list and then go here to check the answer.