What if the difference between two numbers is sixteen three times the larger number is nine times the smaller what are the numbers?

# 1X = 1Y +16 # 3X = 9Y

So, if we multiply the first equation by 3 we should be able to compare it to the second equation # 3X = 3Y + 48 We can subtract the third equation from the second and we get 0 = 6Y - 48 so 6Y = 48 Y = 8 Now we can re-do the equations putting in the value of Y # 1X = 8 +16..... so X = 24 # 3(24) = 9(8)..... 72 = 72 So, the two numbers are 8 and 24.