The sum of two whole numbers is 9,and their positive difference is 5.what is the product of the numbers?

Answer 1

let the smaller be x
and the larger be 9-x
then
9-x - x = 5
-2x = -4
x = 2

smaller is 2, larger is 7

or

let one be x, the other be y
x+y=9
x-y=5
add them --->2x = 14
x = 7
then in x+y=9
7=Y=9
y = 2