there are two numbers that are 3 times as far from 19 as they are from 11. the sum of the two numbers is?
A little thought should make it clear that since x is farther from 11 than from 19,
1. x is between 11 and 19
2. x > 19
If 11<x<19,
x-11 = 3(19-x)
x-11 = 57-3x
4x = 68
x = 17
If x > 19,
x-11 = 3(x-19)
x-11 = 3x-57
2x = 46
x = 23
check:
17 is 6 from 11 and 2 from 19
23 is 12 from 11 and 4 from 19