The Sum of Two Numbers is 38 and Their Difference is 1

The sum of two numbers is 38 and their difference is 1. 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 38. In other words, x plus y equals 38 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 38

The difference between x and y is 1. In other words, x minus y equals 1 and can be written as equation B:

x - y = 1

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

x - y = 1
x = 1 + y

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

x + y = 38
1 + y + y = 38
1 + 2y = 38
2y = 37
y = 18.5

Now we know y is 18.5. Which means that we can substitute y for 18.5 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 38
x + 18.5 = 38
X = 19.5

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 38 and their difference is 1. What are the two numbers? Answer: 19.5 and 18.5 as proven here:

Sum: 19.5 + 18.5 = 38
Difference: 19.5 - 18.5 = 1

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 38 and Their Difference is 2
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