The sum of two numbers is 44. The smaller number is 6 less than the larger number. What are the numbers?

How do I solve this?

To solve this problem, you can use algebraic equations.

Let's assume the larger number is represented by "x" and the smaller number is represented by "y".

According to the given information, the sum of the two numbers is 44, so our first equation is:

x + y = 44 ---(equation 1)

Now, it is also given that the smaller number is 6 less than the larger number. Mathematically, this can be represented as:

y = x - 6 ---(equation 2)

To find the values of x and y, we need to solve these two equations simultaneously.

One way to do this is by substitution. We can substitute the value of "y" in equation 2, into equation 1:

x + (x - 6) = 44

Combining like terms, we have:

2x - 6 = 44

Adding 6 to both sides of the equation:

2x = 50

Then, divide both sides by 2:

x = 25

Now, we can substitute the value of x into equation 2 to find the value of y:

y = 25 - 6

y = 19

So, the larger number is 25 and the smaller number is 19.

x + x - 6 = 44

2x = 50

x = ?