a number --- x
one number = 3x
17 added to each:
x+17 and 3x + 17
x+17 = 2(3x+17)
x+17 = 6x + 34
-17 = 5x
x = -17/5
one number is -17/5, the other is -51/5
check:
let's add 17 to both of them to get
-17/5 + 17 and -51/5 + 17, which would be 68/5 and 34/5
sure enough: 68/5 is twice 34/5
or
3x+17 = 2(x+17)
3x + 17 = 2x + 34
x = 17
one number is 17, the other is 51
repeat the same check as before, it works
So there are two answers according to the way you worded the question:
the 2 numbers are 17 and 51
or
the 2 numbers are -17/5 and -51/5
One number is 3 times another number if 17 is added to each the first resulting number is twice the second resulting number find the two numbers
1 answer