The sum of two numbers is 39. The greater number is 5 less than 3 times the smaller number. What are the two numbers

Answer: the smaller number is 11, and the larger number is 28

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x = the smaller number; then the greater number is 3x-5. When you add these they must equal 39, so:

x + (3x-5) = 39

4x - 5 = 39; now add 5 to both sides:

4x = 44; now divide both sides by 4, and you get x = 11, which is the smaller number. The larger number would be 3 (11) - 5 = 33 - 5 = 28