Answer:
Your answer is "The largest number is 43 and the smaller number is 31". :)
Step-by-step explanation:
Pick two numbers for variables, like a and b.
Let a be the greater number.
The largest of two numbers is 12 more than the smaller number translates to (the word "is" means equals sign)
a = 12 + b
They told you the sum of the two numbers is 74, and that translates to (sum means to add)
a + b = 74.
Now, solve for b, so you get
b = 74 - a.
Plug this back into the first equation of a = 12 + b and you get
a = 12 + (74 - a)
Now, solve for a
a = 86 - a
2a = 86
a - 43
Now, you need to answer the question asked and find b. Well, look at your two original equations
a + b = 74
43 + b = 74
b = 31
