the sum of two numbers is 17, the difference between the larger number and three times the smaller is 4, find the numbers!

2 answers

let the larger be x
then the smaller is 17-x

x - 3(17-x) = 4
x - 51 + 3x = 4
4x = 55
x = 13.75

the larger is 13.75 , and the smaller is 3.25

Check:
is 13.75+3.25 = 17 ? YES
the larger ---- 13.75
3 times the smaller -- 9.75
Is that difference equal to 4 ? YES
all is looking good
11,6