The Sum of Two Numbers is 40 and Their Difference is 2

The sum of two numbers is 40 and their difference is 2. 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 40. In other words, x plus y equals 40 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 40

The difference between x and y is 2. In other words, x minus y equals 2 and can be written as equation B:

x - y = 2

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

x - y = 2
x = 2 + y

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

x + y = 40
2 + y + y = 40
2 + 2y = 40
2y = 38
y = 19

Now we know y is 19. Which means that we can substitute y for 19 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 40
x + 19 = 40
X = 21

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 40 and their difference is 2. What are the two numbers? Answer: 21 and 19 as proven here:

Sum: 21 + 19 = 40
Difference: 21 - 19 = 2

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 40 and Their Difference is 3
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