Word Problem: The difference between two numbers is 55.

jhawk555 said:

This one has me stumped and I can't seem to figure it out.


The difference between two numbers is 55.
Four times the smaller number plue five times the large number is 176. What are the two numbers?

I have tried setting up two different equations.

The first part, I figured to be x-y=55
The second, 4s+5L=176
I tried to solve for s giving me 44, but then that would make my answer a negative and it is not.

who says it's not? the problem statement? ... or did you just decide that both values have to be positive?

fyi, the difference between these two numbers is 55 ... 44 - (-11) = 55

Please help! What am I doing wrong?

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jhawk555 said:

I tried to solve for s giving me 44, but then that would make my answer a negative and it is not.

Click to expand...