Find the smaller number

​The sum of two numbers is 64, and the larger number is 3 less than 3 times the smaller number.
​Find the smaller number.

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x = smaller number
3x - 3 = larger number   {large number is 3 less than 3 times the smaller number}

x + 3x - 3 = 64  {the sum of the two numbers is 64}
4x - 3 = 64  {combined like terms}
4x = 67  {added 3 to each side}
x = 16.75  {divided each side by 4}
16.75 is the smaller number

By the way,
3x - 3 {larger number}
= 3(16.75) - 3  {substituted 16.75, in for x, into 3x - 3}
= 50.25 - 3   {multiplied 3 by 16.75}
= 47.25  {subtracted}
47.25 is the larger number

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