The Sum of Two Numbers is 87 and Their Difference is 2

The sum of two numbers is 87 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 87. In other words, x plus y equals 87 and can be written as equation A:

x + y = 87

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 = 87
2 + y + y = 87
2 + 2y = 87
2y = 85
y = 42.5

Now we know y is 42.5. Which means that we can substitute y for 42.5 in equation A and solve for x:

x + y = 87
x + 42.5 = 87
X = 44.5

Summary: The sum of two numbers is 87 and their difference is 2. What are the two numbers? Answer: 44.5 and 42.5 as proven here:

Sum: 44.5 + 42.5 = 87
Difference: 44.5 - 42.5 = 2

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The Sum of Two Numbers is 87 and Their Difference is 3
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