Two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S. Which of the following is the gr

a - b = 2
a + b = s

So, 2a = 2 + s

Or, a = \(\frac{( 2 + s )}{2}\)

Or, a = 1 + s/2

Hence answer will be (D)

Two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S.
(Let a and b be the two numbers) ;

a - b = 2
a + b = S
(Solving by combination) 2a = 2 + S
a = (2+ S )/ 2
a = 2/2 + S/2
a = 1 + S/2 or S/2 +1

Solving for b;
Substituting a in equation a - b = 2
S/2 +1 - b = 2
b = S/2 +1-2
b = S/2 - 1

Therefore "a" is greater than "b" . Hence Answer is D = (S/2 +1)...

The easiest way to do this is just to pick numbers. Lets say the numbers are 4 and 2. S=6. So then We're looking for the answer to yield w/ 4.

Lets have two numbers a and b, Sum is "S", Average is S/2
Differance between b & a is 2

b=S/2 + 1
and
a=S/2 - 1

Larger is b

Ans d

Ugh, the actual math here wasn't the problem for me.

Understanding that the question was asking for the numbers in relation to the previous terms did not click for me on first blush.

Time and time again I find myself taking math questions literally and verbal questions figuratively. It's maddenning!

If the question had worded the problem "Which of the following is the greater of the two numbers in terms of S?" it would have been obvious what to solve. But the wording stresses the following numbers, which just seems diabolical.

Is this just a lack of having a deeper knowledge of the question types and how they might appear? Does this type of trip-up get any easier to overcome? Honestly, I feel like it's just an arms race of finding cheat codes sometimes.

Posted from my mobile device

So true its maddenning at times :lol: