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

The sum of two numbers is 3 and their difference is 5. 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 5. In other words, x minus y equals 5 and can be written as equation B:

x - y = 5

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

x - y = 5
x = 5 + y

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

x + y = 3
5 + y + y = 3
5 + 2y = 3
2y = -2
y = -1

Now we know y is -1. Which means that we can substitute y for -1 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 3
x + -1 = 3
X = 4

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 3 and their difference is 5. What are the two numbers? Answer: 4 and -1 as proven here:

Sum: 4 + -1 = 3
Difference: 4 - -1 = 5

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