This is "college" math?

Anyway...

let the smaller number be x, and the larger number be x+8

then x + x+8 < 12

this is easy to solve, let me know what you got.

the sum of two numbers is less than 12. The second number is 8 more than the first.what are the possible values of the two numbers?

To solve this problem, you are given that the smaller number is represented by x and the larger number is x+8. You also know that the sum of these two numbers is less than 12.

To find the possible values of the two numbers, you can set up the following inequality:

x + (x + 8) < 12

Now, you can solve the inequality to find the range of possible values for x.

First, simplify the expression by combining like terms:

2x + 8 < 12

Next, isolate the variable by subtracting 8 from both sides of the inequality:

2x < 4

Now, divide both sides of the inequality by 2 to solve for x:

x < 2

Therefore, the possible values for x are any numbers less than 2.

To find the possible values of the two numbers, you substitute the possible values of x into the expressions for the smaller and larger numbers:

For x = 0, the smaller number is 0 and the larger number is 0 + 8 = 8. So, (0, 8) is one possible pair of numbers.

For x = 1, the smaller number is 1 and the larger number is 1 + 8 = 9. So, (1, 9) is another possible pair of numbers.

In conclusion, the possible values of the two numbers are (0, 8) and (1, 9).