Chapter 4, Problem 37CLR

To determine

To find: The smallest number and larger number.

Answer to Problem 37CLR

The smaller number is 17 and the larger number is 19.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

One third of the sum of the numbers is five less than the smaller integer

  $\frac{1}{3}[x+(x+2)]=x-5$

Calculation:

Let the smaller odd integer be $x$ .

Then the larger odd integer is $x+2$

One third of the sum of the numbers is five less than the smaller integer.

One third of the sum = x−5

  $\frac{1}{3}[x+(x+2)]=x-5$

  $x+(x+2)=3(x-5)$

  $2x+2=3x-15$

  $2+15=3x-2x$

  $17=x$

So the smaller number is 17 and the larger number is $x+2=19$ .