Question

The difference between two numbers is 25. The smaller number is 1/6th of the larger number. What is the value of the smaller number?

Answer 1

let x = larger number
let y = smaller number
then we set up the equations. since their difference is 25,
x - y = 25 : equation (1)
since the smaller is 1/6 of the larger,
y = (1/6)x : equation (2)
we substitute equation (2) to equation (1):
x - (1/6)x = 25
(5/6)x = 25
x = 25*6/5
x = 30
y = 5

hope this helps~ :)