The Sum of Two Numbers is 71 and Their Difference is 2

The sum of two numbers is 71 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 71. In other words, x plus y equals 71 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 71

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 = 71
2 + y + y = 71
2 + 2y = 71
2y = 69
y = 34.5

Now we know y is 34.5. Which means that we can substitute y for 34.5 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 71
x + 34.5 = 71
X = 36.5

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 71 and their difference is 2. What are the two numbers? Answer: 36.5 and 34.5 as proven here:

Sum: 36.5 + 34.5 = 71
Difference: 36.5 - 34.5 = 2

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 71 and Their Difference is 3
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