The Sum of Two Numbers is 72 and Their Difference is 3

The sum of two numbers is 72 and their difference is 3. 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 72. In other words, x plus y equals 72 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 72

The difference between x and y is 3. In other words, x minus y equals 3 and can be written as equation B:

x - y = 3

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

x - y = 3
x = 3 + y

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

x + y = 72
3 + y + y = 72
3 + 2y = 72
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 = 72
x + 34.5 = 72
X = 37.5

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 72 and their difference is 3. What are the two numbers? Answer: 37.5 and 34.5 as proven here:

Sum: 37.5 + 34.5 = 72
Difference: 37.5 - 34.5 = 3

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 72 and Their Difference is 4
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