The Sum of Two Numbers is 74 and Their Difference is 2

The sum of two numbers is 74 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 74. In other words, x plus y equals 74 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 74

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 = 74
2 + y + y = 74
2 + 2y = 74
2y = 72
y = 36

Now we know y is 36. Which means that we can substitute y for 36 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 74
x + 36 = 74
X = 38

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 74 and their difference is 2. What are the two numbers? Answer: 38 and 36 as proven here:

Sum: 38 + 36 = 74
Difference: 38 - 36 = 2

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 74 and Their Difference is 3
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