The Sum of Two Numbers is 36 and Their Difference is 4

The sum of two numbers is 36 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 36. In other words, x plus y equals 36 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 36

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 = 36
4 + y + y = 36
4 + 2y = 36
2y = 32
y = 16

Now we know y is 16. Which means that we can substitute y for 16 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 36
x + 16 = 36
X = 20

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 36 and their difference is 4. What are the two numbers? Answer: 20 and 16 as proven here:

Sum: 20 + 16 = 36
Difference: 20 - 16 = 4

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 36 and Their Difference is 5
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