The Sum of Two Numbers is 3 and Their Difference is 4

The sum of two numbers is 3 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 3. In other words, x plus y equals 3 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 3

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 = 3
4 + y + y = 3
4 + 2y = 3
2y = -1
y = -0.5

Now we know y is -0.5. Which means that we can substitute y for -0.5 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 3
x + -0.5 = 3
X = 3.5

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 3 and their difference is 4. What are the two numbers? Answer: 3.5 and -0.5 as proven here:

Sum: 3.5 + -0.5 = 3
Difference: 3.5 - -0.5 = 4

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 3 and Their Difference is 5
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