Find the value of two numbers if their sum is 12 and their difference is 4
a + b = 12
a - b = 4
How do I solve it
I could show you a way to solve it, but if you haven't been taught that yet, it wouldn't mean much.
I suggest you play around with these numbers until you find the answer.
To find the value of the two numbers, let's assign variables to represent the numbers. Let's call the first number x and the second number y.
From the given information, we know that the sum of the two numbers is 12, which can be written as:
x + y = 12 -- equation (1)
We also know that the difference between the two numbers is 4, which can be written as:
x - y = 4 -- equation (2)
To solve these equations, we can use a method called "elimination" or "substitution."
One way to solve this system of equations is to use the elimination method. In this method, we can add both equations together to eliminate one of the variables.
Adding equation (1) and equation (2) gives us:
(x + y) + (x - y) = 12 + 4
2x = 16
Dividing both sides of the equation by 2 gives us:
x = 8
Now that we have the value of x, we can substitute it back into one of the original equations to solve for y. Let's substitute x = 8 into equation (1):
8 + y = 12
Subtracting 8 from both sides of the equation gives us:
y = 12 - 8
y = 4
So, the two numbers are 8 and 4.